…as IGP insists on reduction of ‘Tactical Teams’
By our correspondent
Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police, IGP Olatunji Disu has reemphasized the need to enhance supervision within the various existing teams across Police formations with a view to removing causes of complaints by members of the public against the force.
The IGP who was quoted in a press release signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Abuja, DCP Anthony Okon Placid said he was uncomfortable with the proliferation of tactical teams.
The police boss who was reacting to a publication circulating in sections of the media which he described as misrepresentation of the directive, acknowledged the contributions of tactical teams towards crime fighting in the nation.
“The attention of the Inspector-General of Police has been drawn to the above-captioned story recently circulated by some online media outlets. The publication stated that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, directed the immediate dissolution of multiple tactical units operating across state commands nationwide.
This report is a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directives. 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”.
IGP Disu further noted that the proliferation of tactical teams have affected the force’s manpower and integrity and issued directive on limits of teams.
The statement continues “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 emphasized 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”.
