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The federal government’s response to the nationwide outcry of #EndSARS, #SARSMustEndInNigeria, #EndPoliceBrutalityInNigeria was an instant replacement of the FSARS with SWAT
A new police squad to replace the defunct SARS and perform its duties has been set up by Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu.
Police spokesman Frank Mba in a statement said: “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.
Here are some of the things Nigerians need to know about SWAT
- A designated law enforcement team whose members are recruited, selected, trained, equipped, and assigned to resolve critical incidents involving a threat to public safety which would otherwise exceed the capabilities of traditional law enforcement first responders and/or investigative units.
- It is a law enforcement team that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics.
- First created in the 1960s to handle riot control or violent confrontation with criminals and later increased during the war on drugs.
- SWAT teams are increasingly equipped with military-type hardware and trained to deploy against threats of terrorism, crowd control, hostage-taking, and in situations beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement.
- SWAT units are often equipped with automatic and specialised firearms and specialised equipment such as submachine guns, assault rifles, riot control agents among others.
- SWAT units are always called upon to intervene in uncommonly high-risk events such as hostage rescue, counter-terror operations, hazardous engagement, and fugitive tracking.
- SWAT units are special agents selected from volunteers within their respective Field Offices and undergo unique and rigorous training.
- SWAT operations are not for the weak or faint-hearted; all unit members must be tactically and technically proficient, well beyond more common law enforcement standards and response.
