The Nigeria Police Force is undergoing significant restructuring following an order from Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to dissolve multiple tactical units nationwide.
The directive, issued after a virtual meeting with senior police officers, mandates the immediate disbandment of all existing tactical teams at command, area command, and divisional levels, regardless of their operational names. Units such as “Lion, Tiger, and Scorpion squads” are no longer to operate in their current form.
Under the new arrangement, only area commands and divisional surveillance units will function temporarily while personnel from the disbanded teams are redeployed into conventional policing roles, including patrol and guard duties, the Divisional Crime Branch (DCB), Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC), and general beat assignments. Additional details on the restructuring are expected during the Officers’ Conference scheduled for March 26, 2026.
The reform comes amid longstanding public concerns over certain tactical units, many of which have faced allegations of human rights abuses, extortion, and extrajudicial operations. Notably, some specialized units, including the RRS, Anti-Cultism, Anti-Kidnapping, Scorpion, TIRS, SWAT, IGP Monitoring, Tiger, Gender, and Anti-Robbery units, are reportedly exempt from the disbandment.
The restructuring coincides with a rescheduled special promotion examination and interactive session for senior officers previously overlooked in past cycles. The IGP is providing this transparent opportunity to correct past injustices, ensuring officers who were previously sidelined can compete for their next ranks. Strict security measures, including armed escorts and dedicated transport, have been put in place to safeguard the process.
