Police Deny Disbanding Tactical Units, Announce Nationwide Restructuring
The Nigeria Police Force has refuted reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, ordered the disbandment of all police tactical units and squads across state commands nationwide.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, the police described the widely circulated report as a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directive.
According to the statement, the IGP did not order a blanket dissolution of tactical units but instead directed a strategic reduction and restructuring aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and public trust.
The clarification follows concerns generated by online media reports suggesting that multiple tactical units operating across state commands had been immediately disbanded.
The police spokesperson explained that the IGP, drawing from extensive operational experience across the country, acknowledged the critical role of tactical teams in crime-fighting but expressed concern over their unchecked proliferation.
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“The Inspector-General recognises the value of tactical teams in addressing security challenges,” the statement noted, adding that their excessive multiplication had led to manpower shortages at police divisions and posts, as well as incidents that have negatively impacted the Force’s integrity.
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 restructuring, the statement said, may involve the merging or disbanding of certain teams, subject to the discretion of heads of formations.
The directive, however, does not affect state-established security outfits such as Lagos State’s Rapid Response Squad, Oyo State’s Special Response Squad, and Bayelsa State’s Operation DOO-AKPOR, among others.
The police leadership said the move is expected to redeploy personnel to police stations, thereby strengthening grassroots policing and addressing public complaints about the conduct of some tactical units.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Force to accountability and professionalism, the statement noted that the directive aligns with the IGP’s earlier pledge to build a people-friendly police institution.
“The restructuring is designed to enhance supervision, strengthen operational efficiency at the divisional level, and eliminate factors contributing to public dissatisfaction,” the statement added.
The police urged the public and media organisations to verify information before publication to avoid spreading misinformation on sensitive security matters.
By PRNigeria
