Inspector General of Police announces new squad “SWAT” to replace SARS
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police Mohammad Adamu sets up a new Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) squad to “fill the gaps” left by the notorious police unit Federal Special Anti-robbery squad (FSARS).
According to the spokesman for the force Frank Mba said the IGP had also ordered all personnel of the disbanded SARS to report at force headquarters in Abuja for debriefing.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, mni 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,” Mba said.
Mba also revealed that prospective members of this new team will also “undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.”
The SARS was dissolved on Sunday but there are allegations that they were still on the streets attacking and brutalizing protesters.
Just hours after Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday tried to assuage protesters by promising “extensive” reforms to stop the rising crisis of police brutality, another civilian was shot and killed by police during a protest in Surulere, Lagos State.
Source: Guardian
