The Inspector -General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has set up the Special Weapons and Tactics Team that will replace the disbanded Special Anti -Robbery Squad.
The prospective members of the new team , who would undergo tactical training next week, will undergo a psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment .
A statement by the Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that the personnel from 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 in 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 .
The statement was entitled , ‘ IGP orders all defunct SARS personnel to report at the force headquarters for psychological and medical examination ’ .
It also disclosed that the IGP had 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 the process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties .
The statement read , “ The Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Adamu , 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 medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling 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 psychiatrists, psychologists , medics, pastors and imams , public relations practitioners , civil society and other human rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.
While reaffirming his commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the police reforms , the IG 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. ”
