The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has denied reports claiming that all police tactical units and squads across Nigeria have been disbanded.
The clarification was made in an official statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, who described the circulating report as misleading and not a true reflection of the directive issued by the police leadership.
According to the statement, the Inspector General only ordered a reduction in the number of tactical teams at different command levels, not a total disbandment as widely reported.
The directive stated that zonal and state commands should have a maximum of five tactical teams, while area commands and divisions should not have more than three teams. The decision was aimed at reducing duplication, improving supervision, and strengthening regular police divisions.
The police explained that the move followed public concerns about the activities of some tactical units and the increasing number of special teams created by different commands, which sometimes led to complaints from citizens.
The statement added that the Inspector General believes tactical teams remain important for crime fighting but expressed concern that too many units could weaken police stations by taking away needed personnel.
It was also explained that commands may merge or reorganise some teams where necessary in order to comply with the new directive.
The police further noted that the order does not affect security outfits created by state governments, including special response teams operating in some states.
According to the Inspector General, the adjustment is part of efforts to improve accountability, strengthen discipline within the force, and ensure better service delivery to the public.
