Police Reform: New Police Tactical Team, SWAT Commence Training Today

The new Police tactical unit called the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) has commenced training.

According to the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni the new police tactical team will operate within very high professional and ethical standards

AllNews recall that the new police tactical unit will take over from the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police Force following recent media attention over several incidents in which many Nigerians have died, tortured, kidnapped, and assaulted by the police unit.

In a tweet by the Nigerian Police Force, IGP Adamu said; '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."

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Adamu reiterated that no personnel of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) will be a member of SWAT. He noted that the officers selected for the training are young, smart, and energetic officers who have acquired not less than seven (7) years of working experience with 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.

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 ICRC, independent International human rights and humanitarian support organization with over 71years 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 life-saving skills, stress/fear management, police-citizens relations and emotional intelligence etc. 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 charged the training coordinators to ensure a diligent and timely delivery of the Tactical Team.

He also seeks the cooperation of the citizens in the ongoing development drive for a new and reformed Nigeria Police Force, enjoined them to be patient, and believe in the reform processes which are all directed at ensuring the security, safety, and rights of all.