Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has set up the Special Weapons and Tactics Team that will replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
According to a statement from the Force Public Relations Officer DCP Frank Mba, it is expected that the unit will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS. He added that recruitment has commenced for operatives of the new unit.
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. “
As expected, Nigerians have reacted to creation of the new unit named Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, as replacement for the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Nigerians in their reaction to the announcement are also expressing their fear over the new police unit.
What is the difference…? What would be the difference…?There’s a saying in Igbo language… “Nnunu bepuru n’ala ma bere na nkpuruokwu no nga ono!” When a bird that was on the ground flies up and lands on a toad stool it’s still on the ground. Because the ground and the toadstool is the same height.” That bird has not moved! So, I ask again: What is the point of disbanding SARS and then, reconstituting and recruiting the same people for SWAT?