The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has ordered the personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to report to the force headquarters in Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.
The new directive comes just about 2 days after the notorious Police unit was dissolved by the IGP, as seen in a circular signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Digital and Newmedia, Tolu Ogunlesi shared the news via his Twitter handle.
JUST IN: PRESS RELEASE from @PoliceNG pic.twitter.com/fLJOcHe9n3
— Tolu Ogunlesi, MON (@toluogunlesi) October 13, 2020
Backstory
Following the nationwide protests against atrocious acts of SARS personnel, the IG of Police announced the disbandment of the unit on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The following day, President Buhari, in a live broadcast reiterated that the disbandment of SARS was a first towards the reformation of the Police and other security agencies.
Today’s announcement of the psychological evaluation of the officers is one of the many demands the #EndSARS protesters have made of the government.
Full statement below
PRESS RELEASE
IGP ORDERS ALL DEFUNCT SARS PERSONNEL TO REPORT AT THE FORCE HEADQUARTERS FOR DEBRIEFING, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION
New Tactical Team to Commence Training Next Week
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, min, has today, 13th October 2020, in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, ordered all personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.
The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a unit which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, reorientation, and training of the officers of the force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
The unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from among psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors, and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society, and other human rights groups with relevant qualification and expertise.
Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gap arising from the dissolution f 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. They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
While Personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nassarawa State, and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.
While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the Police reforms, the IGP enjoins members of the public, particularly protesting citizens to exercise restraints and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a Police Force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.
DCP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA
