EndSARS: Governors tell Police IG to suspend SWAT
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has told the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Adamu that his decision to roll out a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit came at a bad time.
Adamu had said SWAT would fill the security gap left by the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
SARS was scrapped following public outcry against its reign of alleged robbery, bribery, illegal arrests and detention, as well as extra-judicial killings.
Nigerian governors told the police chief to “consult more before going ahead with his plans” to form another anti-robbery unit.
This was contained in a communique NGF chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, signed after the forum’s teleconference meeting with the IGP on Wednesday.
The communique reads in part:
“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 operation.
“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.”
Nigerians are protesting under the EndSARS movement to demand comprehensive police reform.
