To address the increasing incidents of kidnappings and banditry, especially in border towns within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun has officially launched a new team called the Special Intervention Squad.
This squad has the important task of patrolling and securing communities along the borders of the FCT, aiming to prevent and lessen violent attacks in the nation’s capital.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced the deployment of 40,000 operatives from this Special Intervention Squad, currently undergoing training.
This deployment will commence in Katsina and nine other states, including the FCT.
To ensure the effectiveness of the Special Intervention Squad, commanders will undergo specialized training in Mexico.
This deployment to selected states serves as a pilot initiative to test the squad’s efficiency.
Inspector-General Egbetokun, highlighting the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad as a priority in combating violent crime, stressed that this squad would serve as a standby team of specially trained officers ready to intervene swiftly in major security incidents.
During an event in Owerri, the IG revealed that the remaining 27 states would follow the initial deployment to the 10 pilot states, based on a recent assessment of violent crime conducted across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In an exclusive interview, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi clarified that the Special Intervention Squad would operate differently from the disbanded Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, addressing concerns about potential human rights abuses.
He emphasized that the operatives, drawn from the Police Mobile Force and other units, would not be involved in escort duties.
Commanders of the squads will operate under the command of Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
Adejobi emphasized, “The SIS is not SARS. People have been asking whether or not it’ll operate like SARS? No. The SIS are basically operational men, it is majorly Police Mobile Force operatives, CTU operatives, and our tactical squad operatives that’ll come together under the command of a very senior police officer, either an ACP or a CSP that’ll be the commander in each state, and they’re not going to be doing stop and search work or pursuing ‘Yahoo Boys.’ They’re specifically for intervention purposes.”
He further mentioned that the Special Intervention Squad’s training is ongoing, with commanders undergoing a train-the-trainer course, and additional training sessions planned in Mexico.
It’s crucial to note that the Inspector-General’s directive to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort/guard duties is part of a broader strategy to reassign them to the Special Intervention Squad.
Adejobi emphasized that this move does not imply a blanket ban on all police officers providing VIP escort services, and specialized police escorts will continue to be provided by units such as the Special Protection Unit (SPU).
The intention is to streamline security measures and enhance the internal security architecture of the country.
