Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has ordered all personnel of the recently disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to report to the force headquarters, Abuja for debriefing , psychological and medical examination.
The Force Spokesperson, Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the IGP said that the officers are expected to undergo the process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
The medical examination, the statement added, would be carried out by a newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a unit, which Mba said, will, henceforth, engage in psychological management, reorientation and training of the officers of the force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
According to the statement, “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,” the statement read in part.
The latest directive comes barely 48 hours after the IGP disbanded the SARS following nationwide protests.
The reforms being carried out since the disbandment on Sunday, the Force Spokesman said the IGP has also set up a new unit to replace the SARS.