Gbenro Adesina
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has revealed that the newly established Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), which has replaced the notorious and brutal Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Nigeria would commence training on Monday October 19, 2020.
The training is expected to hold simultaneously at the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun State and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.
According to Adamu, the Nigeria Police Force would ensure that the new Police Tactical Team would operate within very high professional and ethical standards, rule of law and dictates of best international policing practices.
He said that for a proper training to be given to the members of the new unit, the NPF would partner with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Development Partners for the training of the Tactical Team.
The IGP reiterated that no personnel of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) would be a member the new Tactical Team adding that the officers selected for the training were young, smart and energetic officers who have acquired nothing less than seven years working experience with clean service records – no pending disciplinary matters, no record of violation of rights of citizens or misuse of firearms – and are physically fit to withstand the rigour of SWAT Training and Operations.
He pointed out that the selected officers shall be subjected to physical fitness test, medical and toxicology screening and the rest and those found to be unsuitable shall be discharged.
“The ICRC, an independent International human rights and humanitarian support organization with over 71years experience in humanitarian services and institutional support and development, will provide resource persons and materials to handle the human rights components of the training program. Specifically, they will handle topics touching on humanitarian laws, police conduct in conflict situation, human rights standard especially in the use of force and firearms, arrest and detention amongst others”, he explained.
According to him, “Other areas of the training program will include modern-day police ethics and values, Intelligence-led policing, Operation planning/Tactical decision making processes, Hostage rescue tactics and operation, weapon handling, first aid/basic life saving skills, stress/fear management, police-citizens relations and emotional intelligence etc. The training modules will be handled by other carefully selected development partners, security experts as well as veterans from the civil society and human rights community”.
The IGP charged the training coordinators to ensure a diligent and timely delivery of the Tactical Team.
He observed that the necessity for the immediate establishment of a new Tactical Team is in view of the need to fill voids created by the dissolution of the defunct SARS particularly during the “EMBER Month” traditionally characterized with upsurge in armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.
The IGP, therefore, seeks the cooperation of the citizens in the ongoing development drive for a new and reformed Nigeria Police Force, enjoining them to be patient and to believe in the reform processes which were all directed at ensuring the security, safety and rights of all.
