Lagos CP flags off medical evaluation for ex-SARS operatives

Hakeem Odumosu, commissioner of police in Lagos, has flagged off the debriefing and medical evaluation exercise for operatives of the defunct special anti-robbery squad (SARS) and other tactical units in the state command.

SARS was disbanded in October, following nationwide protests against police brutality under the #EndSARS campaign.

Odumosu, in a statement signed by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Lagos police public relations officer, noted that the evaluation was part of the commitment towards “changing the psyche of the operatives and preparing them for better police duties which are entirely different from their previous duties”.

The flag-off exercise took place at the Area F command hall, Ikeja, on Monday.

“The Commissioner of Police further admonished the operatives to believe and key into the ongoing reform agenda of the IGP in the Nigeria Police Force, as such is sine qua non to having people-oriented policing in the country,” the statement read.

“The course outline for the debriefing exercise, which runs through Wednesday, 4th November, 2020, includes Public Relations Principles, Concept of Community Policing, Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ENDSARS: Experience, Challenges, Hopes and Aspiration, and the way forward. These topics will be handled by scholars from various fields.

“The medical evaluation conducted included urinalysis, toxicology, fasting and random blood sugar tests, and psychological test.”

Odumosu charged senior officers of the command to always supervise those posted on duty at various locations across the state, in order to ensure quality service delivery, especially during the ember months.

“CP Hakeem Odumosu also encouraged the members of his management team, comprising Deputy Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Heads of Department in the command, at the meeting held at the Conference Hall, Command Headquarters, Ikeja, to put the men on their toes towards having visibility policing, adequate patrols, intelligence-driven policing and public safety across the state,” Adejobi added.

The police commissioner also assured the officers of the support of the federal and state governments “on compensation and replacement of burnt and lost facilities during the unrest”.