Two days after the disbandment of the discredited Special Anti-Robbery Squad, the Nigeria Police has set up a Special Weapons and Tactical Team, SWAT as its replacement.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu according to a statement by the Police Spokesman, Frank Mba, the new unit “will fill the gap from the dissolution of SARS”.
The Inspector General has also ordered all personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.
The statement adds that the officers are expected to undergo the evaluation process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
Read Also: Ban of SARS; recipe for reform
Prospective members of this new SWAT team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
The operatives are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
The Nigerian top cop reaffirmed his commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the Police reforms, the Police Inspector General enjoined members of the public, particularly protesting citizens to exercise restraint 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.
(Edited by Sola Jaiyesimi)