The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Adamu said the new team would operate within very high professional and ethical standards, rule of law and dictates of best international policing practices.

He said the training for SWAT personnel was being organised in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Development Partners.

The police boss said the training would hold at the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.

According to him, no personnel of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) will be a member of the new tactical team.

“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.

The selected officers shall be subjected to physical fitness test, medical and toxicology screening and those found to be unsuitable shall be discharged,” he said.

He said the ICRC, an independent International human rights and humanitarian support organization with over 71 years experience in humanitarian services and institutional support and development, would provide resource persons.

Adamu said the body would also provide materials to handle the human rights components of the training program.

“Specifically, they will handle topics touching on humanitarian laws, police conduct in conflict situation, human rights standard especially in the use of force and firearms, arrest and detention amongst others.

“Other areas of the training programme will include modern day police ethics and values, Intelligence led policing, Operation planning/Tactical decision making processes and hostage rescue tactics and operation.

“It will also cover weapon handling, first aid/basic life saving skills, stress/fear management, police-citizens relations and emotional intelligence,” he added.

Adamu said the training modules would be handled by other carefully selected development partners, security experts as well as veterans from the civil society and human rights community.

The police boss called on the training coordinators to ensure a diligent and timely delivery of the Tactical Team.

He said the necessity for the immediate establishment of a new Tactical Team was in view of the need to fill voids created by the dissolution of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said the idea was to ensure adequate security during the “EMBER Month” traditionally characterized with upsurge in armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.

Adamu called for the cooperation of Nigerians in the ongoing development drive for a new and reformed Nigeria Police Force.

He enjoined citizens to be patient and believe in the reform processes which were all directed at ensuring the security, safety and rights of all.

The post Police commence training for SWATS personnel Monday appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Ehindero told our reporter in Lagos on Thursday that the issue of regular training and retraining of the personnel would also bring about the required change from the new outfit.

“I am more interested in trainings. Any group that you have to bring in whatever name must be trained properly before they perform whatever duty that is required of them.

“The society is getting enlightened and what is obtainable some years ago is not what is obtainable now. So, you have to change with the society by organising regular trainings.

“Lack of training and capacity building programme has been the main problem of getting quality officers to discharge their duties properly in the service,” he said.

Ehindero said that SARS was supposed to be the teeth of the police in terms of confronting robbers, adding that reforming them was significant to achieve the initial objectives for creating them.

“SARS is not a bad outfit, it is just that we have bad operators in the outfit.

“There is no organisation that does what we call quality control more than the police. However, each year we will need to weed out the bad eggs according to the extent of crime they committed,” he said.

The former police chief said that the government had done well for the police in reforming the police act which would take care of human rights and the conduct of policemen.

“The inadequacies in the force in terms of equipment, welfare and building will be taken care of partially. I am sure that the Police Trust Fund now will address the problem of trainings in the force,” he said.

Ehindero, however, urged the youths to be a little cautious and tactical with the way they were going about the protest.

“They should try to desist from creating unrest and disturbing people who are going about their respective businesses.

“They have made their point and I think they should wait on the government to react to their demands.

“Fortunately, the government has reacted positively by scrapping SARS and their willingness to reform the police,” the retired IGP said.

The post #EndSars: Former IGP lauds FG moves, calls for more training for personnel appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Messi had failed to turn up to the club’s tests for COVID-19 eight days ago and been absent from all subsequent sessions ahead of the new campaign after giving the club an official notice that he wished to leave.

But the club’s all-time top scorer finally appeared at the Joan Gamper training ground ahead of an evening session, his first under new coach Ronald Koeman, after taking a test for the novel coronavirus at his home on Sunday.

Messi, 33, revealed last Friday in an interview that he was staying at FC Barcelona for the coming season as he did not wish to face a court case with the club where he has spent his entire career over a disputed release clause in his contract.

The Argentine claimed in an official letter that he was free to leave the club unilaterally and without a transfer fee owing to the clause.

But FC Barcelona and the league’s organising body responded by saying the clause was no longer valid and that the only way to free him from his contract was by paying a release clause of 700 million euros (827.68 million dollars).

Messi, however, will be free to leave free of charge next June unless he pens a new deal with Barca.

FC Barcelona, who will be looking to reclaim the La Liga title after surrendering it to Real Madrid last season, are sitting out the first two weeks of the new campaign which begins on Friday.

This is due to the fact that they reached the Champions League quarter-finals.

Koeman’s side will instead play pre-season friendlies against Gimnastic de Tarragona on Saturday Sept. 12 and Girona on Sept. 16, before their first league game at home to Villarreal on Sept. 27.

The post Messi back in training with FC Barcelona after ending departure saga appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Barca returned to full training on Monday for the first time in three months ahead of the Spanish season re-starting on June 11.

The season had been halted since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Messi took part in the first two training sessions of the week but was absent from Wednesday’s session, while the team enjoyed a day off on Thursday.

The Catalans said Messi was expected to return to training in the next few days.

This means the Argentine should be available when Barca resume their bid to defend the title away to Real Mallorca on June 13.

“The Barca captain has a small strain in his right thigh muscle,” the club said in a statement.

“This Friday he did specific work to avoid any risks because our first La Liga match is eight days away. He is expected to return to working with the group in the next few days.”

Barca, who are targeting a third consecutive Spanish title, lead Real Madrid by two points with 11 matches remaining.

Messi is leading the scorers’ chart in La Liga with 19 goals.

The post Messi misses training again with thigh injury appeared first on NEWSVERGE.