The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed widespread reports 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, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, described the circulating reports as a “misrepresentation” of the IGP’s directive, clarifying that no blanket dissolution of tactical teams was ordered.
According to the statement, the IGP—who acknowledged growing public concerns over the operations and proliferation of tactical units—has instead directed a strategic restructuring aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and public trust.
The clarification noted that rather than disbanding all units, the police boss ordered a reduction in the number of tactical teams. Under the new directive, Zonal and State Commands are to operate a maximum of five tactical teams, while Area Commands and Divisions are limited to three.
The statement explained that the restructuring could involve merging or disbanding certain teams at the discretion of Heads of formations, depending on operational needs. It further emphasized that the directive does not affect state government-created security outfits such as Lagos State’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Oyo State’s Special Response Squad (SRS), and Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR.
The police leadership said the move is intended to address the over-proliferation of tactical units, which has reportedly drained manpower from Police Divisions and Posts, while also contributing to cases of misconduct due to poor supervision.
“The Inspector-General recognises the vital role tactical teams play in crime-fighting,” the statement read, “but is concerned about their unchecked expansion and the resulting challenges to the Force’s integrity.”
The restructuring, according to the police, is expected to redeploy personnel to police stations, strengthen community policing, and reduce complaints from the public regarding excesses by tactical teams.
The development aligns with the IGP’s earlier pledge to build a more accountable and people-friendly police force, with enhanced supervision and improved service delivery. The statement was dated March 22, 2026, and issued from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
