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IGP Disu disbands police tactical units, squads across Nigeria
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RRS, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping units affected in nationwide restructuring
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Officers redeployed to conventional policing duties amid reform push
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, has ordered the immediate disbandment of multiple tactical units within the Nigeria Police Force as part of a sweeping nationwide restructuring.
The directive, conveyed through an internal wireless message after a virtual meeting with senior officers, mandates the dissolution of all tactical squads operating at command, area command, and divisional levels.
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Affected units reportedly include Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anti-Cultism, Anti-Kidnapping, Scorpion Squad, Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Monitoring Units, and other similar formations.
According to the signal, “Following the IGP’s directives at the just concluded Zoom meeting with Commissioners of Police and above, all existing tactical teams at commands are being reformed into two, with operational names to be provided by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations.”
The message further stressed that squads operating under names such as “Lion, Tiger, Scorpion squads and others by whatever names called” are to cease operations in their current structure.
Under the new arrangement, only area commands and divisional surveillance units will function temporarily, pending further directives from the police hierarchy.
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Personnel from the disbanded units are to be reassigned to regular policing duties, including patrol, guard assignments, Divisional Crime Branch (DCB), Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC), and general beat operations.
“The dissolved teams are to be subsumed into patrol and guard, DCB, JWC and beat with immediate effect,” the directive added.
Further details of the restructuring are expected to be unveiled at the end-of-month Officers’ Conference scheduled for March 26, 2026.
Although no official reason was stated, the move comes amid persistent public concerns over alleged human rights abuses, extortion, and misconduct by some tactical units.
Meanwhile, the police leadership is also reviewing promotion processes, with a fresh opportunity granted to officers previously unsuccessful in recent promotion exercises, as part of efforts to ensure transparency and address internal grievances within the force.