New SARS-like Police unit SIS set to launch in 10 pilot states

 SIS will recruit and train officers to rapidly intervene in major violent incidents.

Nigerian police officers (image used for illustration) [LSPC]

A new unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) called the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) is set to commence operations in 10 pilot states, according to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.

At the opening ceremony of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Imo State, on Monday, October 30, 2023, the IGP said the unit will train officers to rapidly intervene in major incidents.

The SIS will be deployed strictly to combat the menace of violent crimes across the country, a mandate that sounds exactly like the one the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was created for in 1992. The unit was later notorious for gross abuse of power, including the harassment, extortion, torture and extra-judicial murder of Nigerians — a reputation that led to its eventual dissolution in 2020.

The NPF immediately tried to replace SARS with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, but it suffered public backlash and never became fully operational.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is confident the SIS will restore peace in Nigeria [NPF]

Egbetokun said on Monday the SIS is considered an immediate priority in restoring calm to troubled areas in Nigeria. The 10 pilot states were selected following a crime assessment carried out across the country.

"The Police Force under my watch is poised to confront head on the menace of violent crimes in our country, restore calm to troubled areas and engender an atmosphere of peace, safety and security which will promote national economic growth and prosperity," he said.

The IGP, appointed in June, commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the specialised training of the initial team of instructors for the SIS. The training will start in November.