By Abuja, Nigeria
The Nigeria Police Force has refuted widespread reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, ordered the disbandment of all police tactical units and squads across state commands.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, the police described the reports as a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directive. According to the statement, the IGP did not order a blanket dissolution of tactical units. Instead, he directed a restructuring aimed at reducing the number of such teams across various command levels.
Under the new directive, Zonal and State Commands are to operate a maximum of five tactical teams, while Area Commands and Divisions are limited to three. The restructuring may involve merging or disbanding units at the discretion of command heads.
The police leadership noted that the move is part of efforts to address concerns over the proliferation of tactical teams, which has reportedly led to manpower shortages at police stations and increased complaints of misconduct due to poor supervision.
The statement emphasized that the directive does not affect state-backed security outfits such as Lagos State’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Oyo State’s Special Response Squad (SRS), and other similar formations.
The IGP, described as a seasoned officer with extensive grassroots experience, acknowledged the critical role of tactical teams in crime-fighting but expressed concern over their unchecked expansion and its impact on the Force’s efficiency and public perception.
The restructuring, the statement added, is intended to improve accountability, enhance supervision, and strengthen Police Divisions by redeploying personnel to frontline duties. The clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny of police tactical operations and reiterates the Force’s commitment to a more people-friendly and accountable policing system.
