Jennifer Ugwueke
In line with the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has summoned officers of the defunct unit to report themselves to the force headquarters, Abuja for mental and medical examination.
The IGP Adamu’s directive was contained in a statement by the police spokesman, Frank Mba. This exercise to be undergone by the personnel is expected to be a prelude further training and reorientation before they will be redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
According to the police boss, this requirement is in line with the provisions of Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020. The full statement read: “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, re-orientation and training of 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 amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, Public Relations practitioners, Civil Society and other Human Rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise. “Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of 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 the 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, Nasarawa 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 restraint 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.” Earlier, the Presidential panel set up to reform the police on Tuesday, October 13, finally okayed 5-points demand of the EndSARS protesters. Adamu convened a meeting with the concerned stakeholders.