Gbenro Adesina
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced the formation of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit to replace the recently-dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
In a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, signed by Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, the newly formed SWAT will fill the gaps left by SARS whose main role was tackling violent crimes especially armed robbery and kidnapping.
“Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment,” the statement read.
Also, officers of the defunct SARS have been ordered to return to Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing, psychological, and medical examination.
The officers will also be retrained and reoriented before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties, Mba said.
The IGP reiterated his commitment towards the implementation of sweeping Police reforms and called on Nigerians to exercise restraint while protesting.
His previous announcement of the dissolution of SARS had failed to put an end to the protests that started last week.
The statement read in part:
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, min has today, 13th October 2020, in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, ordered all personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.
The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a unit which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, reorientation and training of the officers of the force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
The unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from among psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors, and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human rights groups with relevant qualification and expertise.
Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gap arising from the dissolution f the defunct SARS. Prospective members if this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment. They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
While Personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nassarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.
While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the Police reforms, the IGP enjoins members of the public, particularly protesting citizens to exercise restraints and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a Police Force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry”.
Meanwhile, the #ENDSARS protests continued today in major cities in the country. While some were peaceful, it was gathered that in some locations in Lagos and Abuja, protesters were molested, harassed and beaten by security operatives.
