Rights Abuse: IGP reduces tactical teams in zonal, state commands

The Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu has directed that tactical teams in zonal and state police commands be reduced to check abuses by police operatives.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, said this in a statement he signed.

The clarification because necessary after media reports said the number one policeman has disbanded all tactical teams nationwide.

Placid said the reports were a misrepresentation of the directive of Disu.

According to the statement, the IGP, who is a grassroots officer with a broad network across Nigerian society, is aware of public concerns regarding the operations of police tactical teams as well as the creation of multiple teams by Commissioners of Police and heads of formations, which have attracted backlash.

The statement explained that Disu, having held command positions across the country and witnessed tactical teams in action, recognises their contributions to crime fighting, but is concerned about their proliferation.

The FPRO said to address these concerns, the IGP directed a reduction in the number of tactical teams.

The statement specified that tactical teams at the Zonal and State Command levels are to be reduced to a maximum of five, while those at the Area Command and Divisional levels are to be limited to a maximum of three.

The IGP advised the directive can be implemented through the merging or disbandment of teams at the discretion of heads of formations.

The police boss clarified that the directive does not apply to state government-created outfits using policemen across the country.

“The IGP expects that the move will free up personnel for deployment to police stations, thereby reducing complaints about the excesses of tactical teams.”

The statement reads, “The attention of the Inspector-General of Police has been drawn to… stories recently circulated by some online media outlets.

“The publications 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.

“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.”