The Nigeria Police Force has denied a widely circulated report claiming that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, ordered the disbandment of all police tactical squads across state commands.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, the police described the report as false and misleading. The viral publication had alleged that the IGP directed the immediate dissolution of multiple tactical units nationwide and ordered a sweeping restructuring of police formations.
According to the statement, the directive from the IGP was misunderstood and wrongly reported. Rather than disbanding all tactical units, the police leadership has only ordered a reduction in the number of such teams at different command levels.
The clarification comes amid growing public concern over the activities of police tactical squads, which have faced criticism in recent years over alleged misconduct, harassment, and abuse of power. These concerns date back to incidents involving disbanded units such as the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly known as SARS, whose activities sparked nationwide protests during the End SARS protests.
In its latest response, the police said the IGP recognises the importance of tactical teams in tackling crime across the country. However, he also noted that the unchecked increase in the number of such units has created operational challenges and contributed to public distrust.
“The IGP values the role of tactical teams in crime-fighting, but is concerned about their proliferation,” the statement said. “This situation has led to a drain of personnel from regular police divisions and has raised issues affecting the integrity of the Force.”
Under the new directive, Zonal and State Commands are to maintain no more than five tactical teams each. At the Area Command and Divisional levels, the number of teams is to be limited to three. The police explained that these limits can be achieved either by merging existing teams or disbanding some of them, depending on decisions taken by commanders at various levels.
Importantly, the directive does not apply to security outfits created by state governments. The police specifically mentioned units such as Lagos State’s Rapid Response Squad and similar formations in other states, noting that they operate under different arrangements and are not affected by the new policy.
The decision to streamline tactical teams is part of broader efforts by the current police leadership to reform the Force and improve its relationship with the public. Analysts say the move reflects lessons learned from past controversies, particularly the backlash that followed allegations of unchecked operations by special units.
The police also said the directive is expected to strengthen grassroots policing by returning more officers to regular divisions and stations. This, officials believe, will improve response times to local incidents and enhance community policing efforts.
Community policing has been a key focus of recent reforms within the Nigeria Police Force. The approach encourages closer collaboration between officers and local communities to address security challenges. However, experts have pointed out that the effectiveness of this strategy depends largely on the availability of personnel at the local level.
By reallocating officers from tactical squads to police stations, the IGP aims to address complaints from communities that divisions are often understaffed. Residents in many parts of the country have reported delays in police response, a problem frequently linked to manpower shortages.
The police reiterated that the directive aligns with the IGP’s earlier commitment to accountability and a more people-friendly Force. In his maiden address, Olatunji Disu had promised to tackle issues affecting public trust and ensure that officers uphold professional standards.
For now, the police have urged the public to disregard the false report about the disbandment of all tactical squads and rely only on official communication from the Force.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to reforms aimed at improving service delivery, protecting citizens’ rights, and maintaining law and order across the country.