By: Alao Abiodun
The Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has created a new unit known as Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team which will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS.
Last Sunday, he disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) due to alleged extra-judicial killings, wanton arrests and dispossession of property through physical assault and other intimidation tactics.
Here are six things you need to know about the new unit:
- Prospective members of this new team will undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
- These members are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
- The training schedules are as follows;
A. Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State
B. Police Commands from the North will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State
C. Police Commands from the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State
- The IGP ordered all operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.
- 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, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
- The Police Counselling and Support Unit will consist of psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, Public Relations practitioners, Civil Society and other Human Rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise
