The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed as misleading a viral report 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 clarified that the directive attributed to the IGP was misrepresented by some online media outlets.
According to the statement, the IGP did not order a wholesale dissolution of tactical teams but instead directed a restructuring aimed at addressing concerns over the proliferation and oversight of such units.
The police noted that while tactical teams remain vital to crime-fighting operations, their unchecked expansion across commands has led to operational inefficiencies, manpower shortages at police divisions, and public complaints arising from poorly supervised units.
To address these challenges, the IGP has 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 are to be limited to three. The restructuring may involve merging or disbanding units at the discretion of heads of formations.
The statement further clarified that the directive does not apply to state government-established security outfits, including Rapid Response Squad, Special Response Squad, and Operation DOO-AKPOR.
The IGP expressed concern over the impact of excessive tactical units on the integrity of the Force, noting that the restructuring would help strengthen police divisions, improve supervision, and address recurring complaints from the public.
The police leadership reiterated its commitment to building a more accountable and people-oriented force, in line with the IGP’s earlier pledge to Nigerians.
