Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: SWAT

  • 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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    “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.

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    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.

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    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