The SWAT Nigerians will Accept!

cc: @Mbuhari @PoliceNG

1. Target Officers: The erstwhile SARS officers are already professionally, morally & psychologically compromised, and probably bitter against citizens. Advert should be floated, screening done and FRESH OFFICERS recruited.

2. Eligibility: Only graduates with Bachelors degree or HND will be recruited for SWAT. Why? because it is counterintuitive to expect complete civility, professionalism and intelligence from uneducated and/or unexposed people.

3. Training: Thorough training and evaluation cutting across mental & psychological health, emotional intelligence and personality tests. These trainings should last at least two months, and is best conducted by independent experts because the problem may be systemic.

4. Remuneration: Since hungry officers are more prone to criminality and extortion, they should be paid like police cadets or employed as Assistant Superintendents of Police (as takeoff rank). After all, they will all be graduates.

5. Mode of Operation: They should only be deployed in "high risk" situations beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement, for eg, terrorism, hostage taking, armed robbery, etc. They should only be seen in 'Code Red' scenes - not stop & search or casual arrest.

6. Discipline: Immediate prosecution and/or dismissal of any SWAT officer found guilty of brutality, extortion or extrajudicial killing of citizens. Independent investigative panels should be set up to address this. This is good for deterrence.

7. Appearance: For any operation, SWAT officers must always appear in their complete uniform or approved tactical gear, with their names boldly written on it. They must also use SWAT customized operational vehicles with their command or branch clearly stated on it.

While we wait for the reformed SWAT, the Mobile Police or other less controversial tactical units can handle high risk cases.

Nigerians are not asking too much; we want to be scared of criminals, not the police. Until these things are done, #EndSWAT

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