The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu says personnel of the newly-formed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team are young, smart and energetic officers who have acquired not less than seven years of working experience.
He added that the officers also have clean service records – no pending disciplinary matters, no record of violation of rights of citizens or misuse of firearms – and are physically fit to withstand the rigour of SWAT Training and Operations.
Adamu disclosed this in a Sunday press statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba.
Recall that the IGP last Sunday dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) following nationwide protest and announced the formation of SWAT as its replacement.
In Sunday’s statement, he reiterated his earlier stance that no member of the defunct SARS, which was notorious for human rights violations, would make the SWAT team.
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According to the statement, Adamu “reaffirmed that the new Police Tactical Team will operate within very high professional and ethical standards, rule of law and dictates of best international policing practices.
“In pursuant of the above objectives, the NPF is partnering with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Development Partners for the training of the Tactical Team which commences Monday, 19th October, 2020 at the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun State and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.”
He added that the selected officers shall be “subjected to physical fitness test, medical and toxicology screening etc and those found to be unsuitable shall be discharged”.
The statement further read, “The ICRC, an independent International human rights and humanitarian support organisation with over 71 years experience in humanitarian services and institutional support and development, will provide resource persons and materials to handle the human rights components of the training program.
“Specifically, they will handle topics touching on humanitarian laws, police conduct in conflict situation, human rights standard especially in the use of force and firearms, arrest and detention amongst others.
“Other areas of the training program will include modern-day police ethics and values, Intelligence-led policing, Operation planning/Tactical decision making processes, Hostage rescue tactics and operation, weapon handling, first aid/basic lifesaving skills, stress/fear management, police-citizens relations and emotional intelligence etc.
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“The training modules will be handled by other carefully selected development partners, security experts as well as veterans from the civil society and human rights community.
“The IGP charges the training coordinators to ensure a diligent and timely delivery of the Tactical Team. He observes that the necessity for the immediate establishment of a new Tactical Team is in view of the need to fill voids created by the dissolution of the defunct SARS particularly during the “EMBER Month” traditionally characterized with upsurge in armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.
“The IGP therefore seeks the cooperation of the citizens in the ongoing development drive for a new and reformed Nigeria Police Force.”
Adamu enjoined Nigerians to be patient and to believe in the reform processes which he said were all directed at ensuring the security, safety and rights of all.