All officers who formerly served under the Special Anti-Robbery Squad have been ordered to undergo a thorough psychological and medical examination.
The order was given by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu after replacing SARS with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).
A statement by the Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that the prospective members of the new team, who would undergo tactical training next week
Full statement below:
PRESS RELEASE
IGP ORDERS ALL DEFUNCT SARS PERSONNEL TO REPORT AT THE FORCE HEADQUARTERS FOR DEBRIEFING, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, min, 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 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, reorientation, and training of the 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 among psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors, and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society, and other human rights groups with relevant qualification and expertise.
Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gap arising from the dissolution f the defunct SARS. Prospective members of this new team will also undergo a 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 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, Nassarawa 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 restraints 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.
DCP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA
