On Tuesday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, stated all personnel of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) will be required to report to Force Headquarters, Abuja, for debriefing, psychological and medical examination, according to @saharareporters.
Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said in a statement on Tuesday that officers would undergo training and reorientation before they were to be “redeployed into mainstream policing duties.”
The statement reads, “The Inspector-General of Police, M.A. Adamu, 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.”
The statement also noted counseling for the officers and psychological management.
“The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counseling and Support Unit, 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 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 rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.”
While the former members of SARS are receiving medical and psychological attention, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics team.
“Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS,” the statement also read.
The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, tweeted, “All officers and men of the now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) are to be redeployed with immediate effect.” He continued, “A new policing arrangement is to address anticipated policing gaps the dissolution of SARS will cause is being worked on and will be announced by @PoliceNG.”
While authorities are developing a new system, many people of the community have no faith in SWAT. One Twitter user wrote, “SWAT is dead on arrival. #EndSWAT #EndSARSnow #EndPoliceBrutalityInNigeria #EndNorthBanditry”
Another wrote,”If there is an increase in crime, it is as a result of the increase in poverty (not even now that we honestly do not know the difference between the criminals and the law enforcers anymore).
This is why we must #EndSWAT #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA”
Roomies, we’ll keep you updated, as this story continues to develop.
