In a sweeping overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has ordered the immediate dissolution of all tactical units operating across the country.
The directive, which takes effect immediately, affects a wide range of units including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Anti-Kidnapping, Anti-Cultism, Scorpion Squad, Tiger Squad, Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), Monitoring Units, Gender Units, and Anti-Robbery squads.
According to an internal police communication seen by this newspaper, the IGP issued the order following a virtual meeting with senior officers.
The message directed that every tactical team at the command, area command, and divisional levels be disbanded regardless of their designated names.
Commissioners of Police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have been instructed to comply immediately. The directive specifies that units identified by animal names such as Lion, Tiger, and Scorpion, as well as any other specialized squads, must cease operations in their present form.
Under the new structure, only area command and divisional surveillance units will continue to function temporarily while awaiting further instructions.
All personnel previously assigned to disbanded units will be reassigned to conventional policing duties, including patrol and guard work, the Divisional Crime Branch, the Juvenile and Women Centre, and routine beat assignments.
Senior police sources indicate that the IGP plans to replace the disbanded units with two newly structured tactical teams, though the names and operational frameworks for these new units will be announced later by the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations.
More details about the restructuring are expected to be revealed at the end-of-month Officersโ Conference scheduled for March 26, 2026.
Although the official statement from police leadership did not explicitly explain the reason for the sudden dissolution, the decision comes against a backdrop of persistent public criticism of police tactical units.
Human rights organizations and civil society groups have long accused these squads of extrajudicial killings, extortion, and harassment of civilians.
This latest directive is part of a broader reform push by IGP Disu, who has been in office for a short period. Earlier this month, he ordered a special promotion examination for senior officers who were allegedly sidelined under the previous administration.
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