The Nigeria Police Force is facing heightened internal tension following a sweeping directive by Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu ordering the immediate disbandment of several tactical units across the country.
The directive, issued through an internal wireless communication after a virtual meeting with senior officers, mandates that all tactical teams at command, area command, and divisional levels cease operations with immediate effect.
Units reportedly affected by the order 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 internal signal, the disbanded units will be reorganised into two new operational formations, with the structure to be defined by the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations.
“Following the IGP’s directives… all existing tactical teams at commands are being reformed into two,” the message stated.
As part of the interim arrangement, only area commands and divisional surveillance units will continue operations, while officers from the affected squads are to be reassigned to conventional policing duties such as patrol, guard responsibilities, the Divisional Crime Branch, and the Juvenile and Women Centre.
“The dissolved teams are to be subsumed into patrol and guard, DCB, JWC and beat with immediate effect,” the directive added.
Further clarification on the restructuring is expected during the upcoming Police Officers’ Conference scheduled for March 26, 2026.
Although authorities have not officially stated the reason behind the move, it comes against the backdrop of persistent public concerns over alleged misconduct, including extortion and extrajudicial actions linked to some of the disbanded units.
The development also follows ongoing plans within the police hierarchy to conduct a fresh promotion exercise for officers reportedly overlooked in previous cycles, amid allegations of irregularities during the tenure of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
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