Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: IGP

  • IGP Wiggles Between Necessity for SWAT to Fill Voids and Meeting Protesters’ Demands

    IGP Wiggles Between Necessity for SWAT to Fill Voids and Meeting Protesters’ Demands

    Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has been wiggling between the demands by the protesters to discountenance the creation of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the necessity for the immediate establishment of the new team to fill voids created by the dissolution of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), particularly during the Ember months traditionally characterised with upsurge in armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.

    But, protesters are not ready to back down as more cities and towns have been joining the #EndSARS movement.

    Gov Sanwo-Olu Visits Widow of Man Shot Dead During #EndSARS Protest

    Adamu has been seeking the cooperation of the citizens in the ongoing development drive for a new and reformed Nigeria Police Force.

    He has constantly been appealing to them to be patient and to believe in the reform processes which are all directed at ensuring the security, safety and rights of all.

    The police chief reaffirmed 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.

    [Videos] #EndSARS: Thugs Allegedly Sponsored, Attack Peaceful protesters in Abuja

    Adamu explained that Nigeria Police Force is partnering with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Development Partners for the training of the Tactical Team which commences October 19 at Police Mobile Force (PMF) Training School in Ila Oragun, Osun State and PMF Training School, Ende Hills in Nasarawa State.

    He reiterated that no personnel of the defunct SARS would be a member the new Tactical Team, noting that “the officers selected for the training are young, smart and energetic officers who have acquired not 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.”

    According to him, “The selected officers shall be subjected to physical fitness test, medical and toxicology screening etc and those found to be unsuitable shall be discharged.

    “ICRC, an independent International human rights and humanitarian support organisation with over 71 years experience in humanitarian services and institutional support and development, will provide resource persons and materials to handle the human rights components of the training programme.

    Presidential Panel Recommends Dismissal of 37 Ex-SARS Officers, Prosecution of Others

    “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.

    “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.”

    Buhari-led Government Approves 5for5 Demand of #EndSARS Protesters

    Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, charged the training coordinators to ensure a diligent and timely delivery of the Tactical Team.

  • IGP Replaces SARS with SWAT, Directs Personnel of New Team to Report to Abuja for Debriefing and Medical Examination

    IGP Replaces SARS with SWAT, Directs Personnel of New Team to Report to Abuja for Debriefing and Medical Examination

    Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday yielded more grounds to the yearnings of the #EndSARS protesters by officially replacing Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with a new team called Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).

    The new team is expected to fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS.

    Prospective members of the new team, in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, have been ordered to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.

    #EndSARS: House of Reps Commends Buhari, Directs IGP to Commence Police Reforms

    The officers, formerly known as SARS personnel, are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.

    It would be recalled that Adamu had over the weekend announced the dissolution of SARS unit after days of agitation across the country.

    Despite this, protest continues in major South-west, South-south, South-east and North-central regions of the country.

    The medical examination would 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.

    #EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Identifies with Demonstrators, Meets Buhari Tomorrow

    The unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human Rlrights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.

    Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the personnel 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 the South-south would be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College in Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-west would be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende in Nasarawa State; and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun in Osun State, respectively.

    BREAKING: IGP Bows to #EndSARS, Disbands SARS Nationwide

    While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the police reforms, IGP 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.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • #EndSARS: House of Reps Commends Buhari, Directs IGP to Commence Police Reforms

    #EndSARS: House of Reps Commends Buhari, Directs IGP to Commence Police Reforms

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to calls to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    House Speaker Gbajabiamila said in a statement that the dissolution was a necessary response by the government to the outcry arising from multiple documented excesses of the SARS across the country.

    The speaker also commended Nigerian youth for acting to right a wrong.

    READ MORE:

    Senate President Applauds Buhari, IGP for Scrapping of SARS

    The dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and the broader, ongoing reforms of the police that will follow are a testament to the passion and resilience of a generation of Nigerians who are determined not to accept or tolerate injustice in whatever form it takes, he said.

    According to Radio Nigeria, the Speaker called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to take practical steps to support and enforce this policy pronouncement.

    He said: “These steps are necessary to assure the Nigerian people that the announced dissolution is sincere and well-intentioned, and not merely meant to quell the ongoing protests.

    Police must also act to identify and punish operatives of SARS involved in the most severe cases of abuse of rights, brutality and murder of Nigerian citizens.”

    Gbajabiamila noted with displeasure the police’s manhandling of peaceful protesters.

    The Speaker assured Nigerians that the dissolution of SARS would not preclude the ongoing efforts by the House of Representatives to effect reforms of the police through legislation.

    READ MORE:

    #EndSARS: Governor Abiodun orders release of protesters

    The House had on Wednesday rose against brutality of SARS officers, passing resolutions on the matter and demanded the IGP to take decisive action and report back within three weeks.

    The lawmakers also requested the police chief to produce a comprehensive record of disciplinary and judicial action taken against the officers accused of abuse of power in the past five years.

    The House asked the IGP to produce an immediate plan for identifying and compensating victims.

    – Radio Nigeria

  • Senate President Applauds Buhari, IGP for Scrapping of SARS

    Senate President Applauds Buhari, IGP for Scrapping of SARS

    Nigeria’s President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the courageous decision to dissolve the notoriously perceived Special Anti Robbery (SARS) squad, a tactical unit in the nation’s police.

    The Senate President said the government has shown themselves as responsive to the feelings of the people and listening to the voice of the people over their dissatisfaction with the operations of the SARS.

    READ ALSO:

    #EndSARS: Oyo Police Killed Jimoh Isiaq, Governor Makinde Backs Peaceful Protesters 

    “I am applauding the President because it is a demonstration of good leadership to yield to the demand of the populace in difficult situations like this,” Lawan said.

    He also commended the Inspector-General of Police and challenged him to come up with measures for the transformation of the Nigeria Police.

    “The expectation is that this situation offers us another opportunity to reform the operations of the entire Force, he added.

    READ ALSO:

    #EndSARS: Governor Abiodun orders release of protesters

    “I also reiterate my call for the prosecution of all security personnel whose extrajudicial killings and other acts of misconduct brought us to this sorry pass.

    “I hope that the steps taken by the Inspector-General of Police will be followed with the more comprehensive reform of the Police,” Lawan said.

  • Magu Probe: Osinbajo requests IGP to investigate N4billion allegations by blogger

    Magu Probe: Osinbajo requests IGP to investigate N4billion allegations by blogger

    Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has written to the Inspector General of Police damanding investigation into some “vicious and malicious” allegations that he had obtained part of a N39 billion recovered loot in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The Vice President’s move follows allegations by an online journalist, Jackson Ude, who in an article published in Point-Blank news on the 8th of July alleging that VP Osinbajo collected N4 billion from the suspended EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

    Vice President Osinbajo, who wrote through his lawyers is asking the Inspector General of Police to conduct full investigation into allegations made by Ude from Point-Blank news.

    The blogger had also alleged that embattled Magu is begging for a soft landing from the presidential panel because of the alleged illegal transaction between him and the Vice President.

    According to the letter written by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s lawyers from the chambers of Bayo Osipitan and Co dated 8th July 2020, Ude’s allegations were described as vicious and malicious meant to portray the vice president as a dishonest and disloyal public officer unfit for the office of the vice president.

    The letter called for a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Jackson Ude, noting that if those claims are found to be false, then criminal proceedings for criminal defamation should be brought against Jackson Ude.

    Osinbajo’s call comes on the heels of an ongoing probe into the operations of Ibrahim Magu as acting boss of the EFCC.

    Magu, who is believed to have been removed from office is spending a fourth day in the custody of the Nigeria Police.

    This comes as the presidential panel continues its investigation into the activities of the commission under the leadership of Magu.

    The panel is reported to have extended its probe to properties alleged to have been acquired by Magu in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    On Tuesday night, a team of security officials reportedly searched his homes in Abuja and were reported to have left with some documents, although it was not confirmed if anything incriminating was found during the search.

    The investigation of Magu followed the allegations of misconduct levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami

    Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was said to have written to President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding the removal of Magu as the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency.

    Meanwhile, the Presidency believes the probe has reinforced the commitment of the Buhari administration to transparency and accountability.