IG reduces tactical teams to boost supervision, deployment

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed the reduction of tactical teams across police formations nationwide as part of efforts to enhance supervision and address public complaints.

The directive limits tactical teams at zonal and state command levels to a maximum of five, while area commands and divisions are restricted to a maximum of three teams.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, on Sunday, noting that the decision followed concerns over the proliferation of tactical units and alleged excesses by poorly supervised teams.

According to him, the reduction could be achieved through the merging or disbandment of teams at the discretion of heads of formations.

The police spokesperson explained that the move was expected to free up personnel for deployment to police stations and divisions which have experienced manpower shortages due to the increasing number of tactical teams.

“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 statement read.

He added that the directive did not affect state government-created outfits such as Lagos Rapid Response Squad, Oyo Special Response Squad and Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR, as well as similar units across the country.