IG Sets Up SWAT To Replace SARS

Inspector General of Police, Adamu, has set up a new police outfit to take over from the disbanded SARS.

It is known as Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team and will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS.

In accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, the IG ordered all personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said: “The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.”

He said the SWAT members would commence training at the different police tactical training institutions nationwide next week.

Mba added: “The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counseling 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.

He said the SWAT members would commence training at the different police tactical training institutions nationwide next week.

He said personnel from the Police commands in the South-east and the South-south would be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai in Rivers State, while those from the police commands from 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.

Solders Brutalise Protesters as Protests Spread

Nigeria Army yesterday brutalised and inflicted injuries on scores of EndSARS protesters at the Three Arm Zone in Abuja.

The protesters were manhandled by soldiers stationed at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers at the Eagle Square, when they tried to march to the National Assembly to present their grouse to lawmakers, who were in a plenary session.

Tension rose when the demonstrators, who had earlier marched to the Eagle Square, crossed into the National Assembly side of the Three Arm Zone and were approaching the outer gate before they were repelled by the fierce-looking soldiers numbering about 10.

In the heat of the moment, scores of the demonstrators were beaten for challenging the order of the soldiers, who asked them to vacate the open space.