The deployment of new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) operatives to state commands has been verified by Minister of Police Affairs Mohammad Dingyadi.

On Friday, Dingyadi revealed this while appearing on Channels Television's "Politics Today" show.

They (SWAT officers) have completed their training and have been assigned to the state police commands from which they were trained.

“They are there with them and they are performing the functions of the SWAT,” he said.

Following the nationwide #EndSARS protests last October, the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over allegations of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings.

Adamu also announced the formation of SWAT operatives to replace the disbanded SARS.

About 1,850 members of SWAT were later trained at the Police Mobile Force Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun State and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.