BREAKING: IGP Disu dissolves State Police units, announces immediate restructuring

There is growing unease within the Nigeria Police Force following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, ordering the immediate dissolution of multiple tactical units operating across state commands nationwide.

The directive, communicated through an internal wireless message after a virtual meeting with senior police officers, mandates that all tactical teams at command, area command, and divisional levels be disbanded, regardless of their operational names.

According to the message, the affected units are to be restructured into two new formations, with official designations to be announced by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations.

Units previously known by names such as “Lion,” “Tiger,” and “Scorpion squads,” among others, are to cease operations in their current form with immediate effect.

Under the new arrangement, only area commands and divisional surveillance units are permitted to operate temporarily, pending further directives from the police hierarchy.

Personnel from the dissolved units are to be redeployed into conventional policing roles, including patrol and guard duties, the Divisional Crime Branch (DCB), Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC), and general beat assignments.

“The dissolved teams are to be subsumed into patrol and guard, DCB, JWC and beat with immediate effect,” the directive stated.

Further details of the restructuring are expected to be unveiled during the end-of-month Officers’ Conference scheduled for March 26, 2026.

Although the rationale behind the sweeping reform was not officially stated, the development comes amid longstanding public concerns over the conduct of certain tactical units, many of which have faced allegations of human rights abuses, extortion, and extrajudicial activities.

Sources within the force, however, indicated that some specialised units, including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anti-Cultism, Anti-Kidnapping, SWAT, and IGP Monitoring units, were not affected by the directive.

The restructuring comes days after the police leadership announced a resit promotion examination and interactive session for senior officers who were reportedly overlooked in previous promotion cycles.

A confidential internal message revealed that Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs) who were unsuccessful in the December 2025 and March 2026 promotion exercises would be given another opportunity.

The move follows allegations that previous promotion exercises were marred by irregularities, including claims that some senior officers were sidelined while junior officers were advanced through questionable means.

The current police leadership is said to be working towards restoring credibility and transparency by providing a fair platform for affected officers to earn their promotions.

To ensure security during the exercise, armed personnel and logistics support have been deployed, with strict directives issued to all commands to release eligible officers for the process.

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