IG moves to strengthen police divisions, orders reduction of tactical teams
By Precious Igbonwelundu To strengthen police divisions and posts across the country, the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered the reduction in the number of tactical
By Precious Igbonwelundu
To strengthen police divisions and posts across the country, the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered the reduction in the number of tactical teams created by police commands.
This order followed public complaints about the reduced staff at police stations to attend to concerns from the masses.
Overtime, police commands and formations have, in a bid to combat criminality, created multiple tactical squads for rapid responses, thereby depleting the number of operatives available at the station for routine policing duties.
Dispelling claims on social media that the IGP has disbanded tactical teams, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Placid said the directive was for the zonal and state commands to reduce their tactical teams to, at most five, while the Area Commands and Divisions were asked to reduce theirs to maximum of three.
Read Also: Nigeria risks inflation pushback from global shocks, structural challenges
“The IGP, a grassroots officer with a profound network across Nigerian society, is aware of public concerns about police tactical teams’ operations and the creation of multiple teams by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations, with attendant backlash.
“Having held command positions nationwide and witnessed tactical teams in action, the IGP values their contribution to crime-fighting. He is, however, uncomfortable with their proliferation, which drains Police Divisions and Posts of required manpower and brings issues that affect the Force’s integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.
“To address these issues, the IGP directed the reduction of the tactical teams at Zonal and State Command levels to a maximum of five, and Area Command and Divisional levels to a maximum of three.
“This can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams, at the Heads of formations’ discretion. The teams referred to exclude State Government-created outfits like Lagos’ Rapid Response Squad, Oyo’s SRS, and Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR and other similar outfits across the country.
“The IGP expects this move to free personnel for Police Stations, reducing complaints about tactical team excesses.
“Having emphasised accountability and a people-friendly Force in his maiden address to Nigerians, the IGP took this step to enhance supervision of existing teams, strengthen Police Divisions, and remove causes of complaints against the Force by members of the public,” said Placid.
