Nigeria’s head of police Mohammad Adamu has established a new Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) squad to “fill the gaps” left by the notorious police unit Federal Special Anti-robbery squad (FSARS).
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has long been accused of harassment, unlawful arrests, torture and even murders, as Thousands of Nigerians marched across the country against its excesses.
However, Following the disbandment of SARS and the establishment of a new squadron,(SWAT) Here are six things you need to know:
1. Prospective members of this new team will undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
2. These members are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
3. The training schedules are as follows;
A. Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State
B. Police Commands from the North will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State
C. Police Commands from the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State
5. 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.
6. The Police Counselling and Support Unit will consist of psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, Public Relations practitioners, Civil Society and other Human Rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise
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