News
Governors fault timing of SWAT formation, urge IGP to shelve plan
Governors of the 36 states in the country on Thursday urged the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to “consult widely” before going ahead with the plans to form another police unit to replace the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The IGP had on Tuesday announced the establishment of Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) to replace SARS which was disbanded by the police authorities following protests by Nigerians over the tactical squad’s brutality.
The governors in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting with the IGP in Abuja and signed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said the timing of the SWAT formation was currently not auspicious because of the mood of Nigerians.
They stressed that the public may misconstrue the idea as an attempt to dress the disbanded SARS in fresh robes.
Adamu had informed the governors that the new SWAT team being put together by the police authorities would only carry out intelligence-based activities and would not be involved in regular operations.
READ ALSO: Police chief, Muhammed Adamu, orders deployment of SWAT team to South-West Nigeria
The communiqué read: “The IGP informed the Forum that after a psychological and medical evaluation, SWAT officers will be trained and posted to all state commands – about 50 per state, where they will operate only on intelligence-driven operations.
“They will not take part in routine operations but will operate specifically on intelligence after which they will return to their commands.
“The IGP assured governors that he will leverage the provisions of the new Police Act 2020 to carry out extensive reforms within the Police and he pledged for the support, understanding, and guidance of governors to embark on the new reforms.“
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...