- As SARS Officers Are Directed To Report For Briefing
- SWAT Takes Over From SARS, Commences Training Next Week
By Kingsley Okoro (Crime/Police Affairs Reporter)
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has commended the lnspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, for listening to the outcry of Nigerians by disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) accused of terrorizing the populace.
A statement on Tuesday by IPAC's National Chairman, Dr Leonard Nzenwa, described the action of the Police boss as "a welcome development in the nation's efforts toward effective policing."
IPAC said "It is unfortunate that operatives of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad who ought to channel their energy to the fight against armed robbery and kidnapping would turn their riffles against unarmed citizens particularly youths. To them, all Nigerian youths are suspects which makes them to dehumanize them. They threw professionalism and decency to the wind and allowed themselves to be used by the highest bidder to settle scores including family issues, while armed robbers, kidnappers, ritualists, bandits and Boko Haram militia terrorise fellow compatriots."
IPAC stated that "Police brutality and killings escalated across the country which necessitated the nationwide protests to #EndSARSNow#. Thousands of Nigerians are languishing in various Police cells for crimes they know nothing about as if Nigeria is a Police state.
"It is a big relief that this long national nightmare is over. All the SARS operatives involved in brutality and killing of innocent citizens should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others," the statement said.
IPAC therefore urged Police authorities to "come up with a professional, disciplined, proactive, patriotic, human, people-oriented anti-robbery squad, conscious of the fact that "the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government", in tandem with Section 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
"We have no doubt that the Inspector General of Police is equal to the task of building an effective Police Force that the nation will be proud of. We also urge the National Assembly to further amend the Police Act to meet international standards.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, on Tuesday, 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 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 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.
The IGP has also set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS. Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
They 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 will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.
While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the Police reforms, the IGP enjoins 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. NNL.
