Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, don come out to clear air for one report wey dey fly upandan say im don order make all police tactical units for state level comot. For statement wey Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, sign on Sunday, IGP Disu talk say im directive na to reduce tactical teams, no be to disband all of dem.
IGP Disu yarn say im notice say pipo dey worry about how police tactical teams dey work and how Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations dey create plenty teams. But im talk say im instruction na for Commissioners and Heads of Formations to reduce tactical teams for Zonal and State Command levels to maximum five, and for Area Command and Divisional levels to maximum three. Dem fit achieve dis by merging teams or disbanding some, as Heads of Formations decide.
Important tin wey IGP Disu yarn be say im directive no include state government-created outfits like Lagos Rapid Response Squad, Oyo SRS, and Bayelsa Operation DOO-AKPOR and other similar outfits across Nigeria. Dis mean say state police teams wey government create go still dey work as usual.
IGP Disu talk say im directive na to free police personnel for Police Stations and reduce complaints about tactical team excesses. Im yarn say as grassroots officer wey sabi Nigeria well well, im dey aware of public concerns about police tactical teams operations and how multiple teams dey cause wahala.
For im statement, IGP Disu talk say: “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.”
IGP Disu yarn say im don hold command positions nationwide and witness tactical teams for action, so im value their contribution to crime-fighting. But im dey uncomfortable with their proliferation, wey dey drain Police Divisions and Posts of required manpower and bring issues that affect the Force’s integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.
To address these issues, IGP Disu direct the reduction of the tactical teams at Zonal and State Command levels to maximum five, and Area Command and Divisional levels to maximum three. Dis can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams, at the Heads of formations’ discretion.
IGP Disu talk say im expect dis move to free personnel for Police Stations, reducing complaints about tactical team excesses. Im yarn say since im don emphasize accountability and people-friendly Force for im maiden address to Nigerians, im take dis step to enhance supervision of existing teams, strengthen Police Divisions, and remove causes of complaints against the Force by members of the public.
Dis clarification come after online media outlets carry report say IGP Disu direct immediate dissolution of multiple tactical units operating across state commands nationwide. IGP Disu talk say dat report na misrepresentation of im directives.
For Naija, police tactical teams don dey cause talk for some time now. Many pipo complain say some of dese teams dey abuse their power and dey harass innocent citizens. But police authorities always talk say dese teams dey important for fighting crime for our country.
IGP Disu directive na attempt to balance between need for effective crime-fighting and need to protect citizens from police excesses. By reducing number of tactical teams, police hope to improve supervision and make remaining teams more effective.
State government-created outfits like Lagos Rapid Response Squad go continue their work. Dese state teams don become important part of security architecture for many states across Nigeria.
IGP Disu directive na part of im efforts to reform Nigeria Police Force since im become Inspector-General. Im don talk say im want make police more accountable and people-friendly.
As dis directive dey take effect, Nigerians dey watch to see how police go implement am and whether e go reduce complaints about police tactical teams. Many pipo hope say dis move go make police work better for communities across Nigeria.
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