The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Tuesday, after protests rocked different parts of the country over their brutality. He announced that the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, (SWAT) will replace SARS.
Underlisted are some significant facts about the new SWAT, according to the IG.
SECTION A: Formation Process
1. None of the personnel of the disbanded SARS will be selected to be part of the new tactical team.
2. Operations of the new tactical team will be based on intelligence.
3. New SWAT will never go on patrols looking for criminals. They will only respond to emergency rescue operations.
4. There will be no searching of phones, devices and laptops by the new SWAT.
5. Operatives of the new SWAT will have no record of human rights abuse or misuse of firearms.
Section B: Operational Specifications
6. SWAT will basically focus on foiling and responding to robbery attacks.
7. The potential SWAT operatives will only be found at scenes of weapon-related crimes for rescue operations.
8. SWAT will not go after individuals. They will only respond to operations involving high-profile criminals.
9. The potential SWAT operatives are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
10. Prospective members of this new team will undergo a psychological and medical examination.
11 The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU).