SWAT replaced the controversial Special Ani-Robbery Squad after #EndSARS protest in October 2020
The hitherto notorious men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS who were retrained and renamed Special Weapon and Tactics team following protests against their activities in October 2020 have been deployed across state commands around Nigeria.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, confirmed the deployment of the new SWAT operatives while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Friday.
“They (SWAT officers) have ended their training and they have been posted to the state police commands that brought them for training.
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“They are there with them and they are performing the functions of the (special weapons unit),” he said.
Recall that following a nationwide #EndSARS protests last October, the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over allegations of human rights abuses, extortion and extrajudicial killings.
Adamu also announced the formation of the special weapons and tactical operatives to replace the disbanded SARS.
About 1,850 members of SWAT were later trained at the Police Mobile Force Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun State and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.