By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Police Force has refuted widespread reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, ordered the disbandment of all police tactical units across state commands, describing the publication as a misrepresentation of official directives.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the police clarified that the IGP did not order a blanket dissolution of tactical squads, but rather directed a strategic restructuring aimed at curbing excesses and improving operational efficiency.
According to the statement, the IGP, drawing from his extensive experience across various command positions nationwide, acknowledged growing public concerns over the proliferation and conduct of tactical teams, particularly those created by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations.
While reaffirming the critical role of tactical units in crime-fighting, the police leadership expressed concern that the unchecked expansion of such teams has depleted manpower at police divisions and posts, while also contributing to misconduct arising from poor supervision.
To address these challenges, the IGP directed that tactical teams at Zonal and State Command levels be reduced to a maximum of five, while those at Area Command and Divisional levels should not exceed three. The directive allows for flexibility, as heads of formations may either merge or disband units to comply with the new structure.
The police further clarified that the directive does not apply to state-backed security outfits such as Lagos State’s Rapid Response Squad, Oyo State’s Special Response Squad (SRS), Bayelsa State’s Operation DOO-AKPOR, and similar formations across the country.
The restructuring, according to the Force, is intended to redeploy personnel to police stations, strengthen grassroots policing, and reduce public complaints associated with the excesses of poorly supervised tactical teams.
The statement emphasized that the move aligns with the IGP’s commitment to accountability and a people-friendly policing system, as outlined in his maiden address to Nigerians, and is aimed at enhancing supervision, restoring public trust, and improving service delivery across the Force.
