IGP Disu scraps police squads, orders restructuring
*IGP Disu
There is growing tension within the Nigeria Police Force following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, ordering the immediate disbandment of several tactical units across commands nationwide.
The directive, conveyed through an internal wireless message after a virtual meeting with senior officers, instructed that all tactical teams at command, area command and divisional levels be dissolved with immediate effect.
Affected units reportedly include the Rapid Response Squad, Anti-Cultism, Anti-Kidnapping, Scorpion Squad, Tactical Intelligence Response Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Monitoring Units, Tiger Squad, Gender Units and Anti-Robbery squads.
According to the message, the disbanded formations will be restructured into two new operational units to be defined by the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, while existing teams are to cease operations.
“Following the IGP’s directives, all existing tactical teams at commands are being reformed into two,” the signal stated.
Under the interim arrangement, only area commands and divisional surveillance units will continue operations, while affected personnel are to be redeployed to conventional policing duties, including patrols, guard duties, the Divisional Crime Branch and the Juvenile and Women Centre.
“The dissolved teams are to be subsumed into patrol and guard duties, DCB, JWC and beat duties with immediate effect,” the directive added.
Further details of the restructuring are expected at the Police Officers’ Conference scheduled for 26 March 2026.
Although no official reason was given, the move comes amid longstanding public concerns over alleged abuses, extortion and extrajudicial actions linked to some tactical units.
The development also follows plans by the police authorities to conduct a resit promotion exercise for officers reportedly overlooked in previous promotion cycles, amid allegations of irregularities under former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.
