#EndSWAT: Deployment Of SWAT Is Reintroduction Of SARS, Says Ademiluyi
From ADEOLA ABIOLA, Lagos
Fiery legal Practitioner and scribe of Eti-Osa Bar Forum, Ayo Ademiluyi has frowned at the deployment of the dreaded police operatives, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, saying that it is the same thing as reintroduction of SARS.
Ademiluyi expresses mix filling over the announcement of the Minister of Police Affairs of the intention of the federal government.
Following the unmitigated brutality if the disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad, Nigerians had rejected such police formation is whatever guise.
He recalled that United Nations had frowned at how Nigeria hurriedly firmed SWAT when the root cause of police brutality had not been resolve.
His statement reads:
I am seized of the statement credited to
the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi asserting that officers of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team have been deployed to state commands of the Nigeria Police Force.
I recall that Mohammed Adamu, former inspector-general of police, had constituted the SWAT team, following the disbandment of the Special Anti-robbery Squad(SARS) in the wake of the October 2020 EndSARS protests.
I also recall that across the country , in the heat of the mass movement against police brutality SWAT was also rejected with #EndSWAT.
According to media reports , Dingyadi was quoted to have said that the SWAT officers had concluded their proper training before being posted back to states where they were drafted from.
I do not share the optimism of the Minister of Police Affairs as no amount of training without proper remuneration, well built barracks and right to a Trade Union for rank and file police officers would stem the tide of Police brutality.
I am also aware of the position of the United Nations, which said the police swiftly created SWAT “without first addressing some of the root causes of police violence and putting in place sufficient safeguards to prevent future violations.”
I do not share the optimism of CP Frank Mba, the Force spokesman, who quoted the former IGP as saying SWAT will operate within “high professional and ethical standards, rule of law and dictates of best international policing practices”.
“The IGP reiterates that no personnel of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) will be a member the new Tactical Team. He notes that the officers selected for the training are young, smart and energetic officers who have acquired not less than seven years working experience with clean service records – no pending disciplinary matters, no record of violation of rights of citizens or misuse of firearms – and are physically fit to withstand the rigour of SWAT Training and Operations,” he had said.
I dare to ask :how is the welfare of “the young promising officers” of SWAT being taken care of? Is there comprehensive overhauling of facilities in the State Commands where they are drafted from?
I call on the entire #EndSARS movement to reject the reintroduction of SWAT in its entirety. Six months after the bloody repression of the #EndSARS protests across the country, none of the “5 for 5” demands put forward by the movement has been met. This is more the reason why the #EndSARS #EndSWAT movement must return to the streets.
