End SARS: Police speaks on deploying SARS operatives to SWAT

Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has assured that no operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) will be deployed to the new Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).

Force spokesman, Frank Mba gave the assurance while pointing out five ‘important facts’ about the new unit.

According to Mba: No personnel of the defunct SARS will be selected to be part of the new Tactical Team;

Operations of the new Tactical Team will be strictly intelligence driven;

Members of the new Tactical Team will by no means embark on routine patrols;

The new team are barred from indiscriminate and unlawful search of phones and laptops;

Operatives must be free of any disciplinary matter especially those touching on misuse of firearms or abuse of human rights.

The Police had ordered all SARS personnel to report to Abuja.

The security agency also assured that prospective SWAT members will undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility.

They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide next week.

Pearsonnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State.

Those from the Police Commands in the North and South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Osun State, respectively.