The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has explained why SWAT was set up to replace SARS in a statement by the Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, in Abuja.

The statement which was titled, ‘IGP orders all defunct SARS personnel to report at the force headquarters for psychological and medical examination’, explained that the prospective members of the new team would undergo tactical training next week.

It also said that they would undergo a psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.

The statement further disclosed that the personnel from police commands in the South-East and the South-South would be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State while those from the police commands in the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.

The statement reads in part, “The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, 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.”

Commenting on the setting of SWAT, leading #EndSARS protesters, Aisha Yesufu and Deji Adeyanju, have called for a commission of inquiry into the extrajudicial killings, illegal detentions and other unlawful activities by the disbanded SARS.

The IGP would however be meeting with governors on Wednesday (today). This was made known by the Governor of Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu when he stated in an interview at the State House in Abuja, after his meeting with the President, that he met earlier with the IGP.

Sanwo-Olu also said he had presented protesting youths’ letter to Buhari. As proofs of government’s commitment and that all protesters arrested on Monday have been released.

On its part, the Presidency has said that the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad had approved the demands of  #EndSARS protesters.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled,  ‘Presidential panel on police reforms swings into action, okays five-point demands of protesters.’