Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A bold and sweeping redeployment of police personnel across Nigeria has set in motion what security experts are calling the most significant internal reform of the Nigeria Police Force in years. On March 22, 2026, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu issued a directive that sent shockwaves through the command structure: the immediate dissolution of multiple tactical units operating across state commands, to be replaced with a leaner, more accountable system capped at a maximum of five tactical teams per state and three per division. This restructuring, which also involves the mass transfer of officers from administrative desks to frontline divisions, is designed to push policing back to the grassroots, rebuild public trust, and tackle the country's escalating crime crisis at its roots.
The directive, which was clarified by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, was a targeted reduction rather than a wholesale disbandment of all units. The IGP, who assumed office in February 2026, expressed concern that the proliferation of tactical teams had drained police divisions and posts of required manpower, leading to poor supervision, public complaints, and compromised integrity. “The IGP is 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,” the police statement read. To address this, the IGP directed that Zonal and State Commands operate a maximum of five tactical teams, while Area Commands and Divisions are limited to three. This can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams at the heads of formations' discretion, with state-created outfits like Lagos’ Rapid Response Squad and Oyo’s SRS exempted.
This overhaul is part of a broader Intelligence-led, technology-driven, and community-focused vision that Disu has championed since his appointment. At the National Police Day celebration on April 8, 2026, Disu declared, “Policing in the 21st century must evolve and we will evolve deliberately. We have launched new mechanisms for internal discipline and public accountability. We are investing in training, technology, and community engagement. These are not future plans. They are actions in motion today.” This sentiment is echoed by security expert Busayo Mogaji, a Nigeria Police Force/United States consultant, who described the redeployment as “a necessary and long overdue recalibration of Nigeria’s policing architecture.” Mogaji emphasized that moving officers from administrative posts to divisions directly addresses the chronic understaffing at frontline police stations, improving response times and visibility, which are proven deterrents to crime.
The restructuring has had immediate ripple effects across the country. In line with the IGP’s directive, several state commands have dissolved their tactical teams and consolidated them into a new specialized formation: the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU). In Rivers State, the command dissolved its tactical units and merged them into a VCRU, which is mandated to respond swiftly to incidents of violent crime while adhering to rules of engagement and respect for human rights. Similarly, the Ekiti State Police Command launched its VCRU, describing it as a rapid-response outfit designed to tackle violent crimes more effectively. In Imo State, 60 officers began a three-day training program for the VCRU, which focuses on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, UN principles on the use of firearms, and the rights of vulnerable persons. The Gombe State Police Command also established a VCRU, with a civilian oversight board chaired by the Emir of Yamaltu to ensure accountability. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command received a donation of 250 litres of petrol from the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to aid the smooth take-off of its VCRU.
Public reaction to the shake-up has been mixed. While some have questioned the logistical disruption caused by the mass transfers, others welcome the move as a long-overdue correction of structural distortions. Mogaji noted that some officers had remained in the same postings for 10, 15, or even 20 years, leading to stagnation and complacency. “Rotation is not just administrative, it is strategic,” he said. The shift in strategy has already yielded early results. On April 27, the police announced the arrest of four suspected bandits in Kaduna and the recovery of AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and a cache of weapons, crediting the operation to the newly streamlined tactical units. As the VCRUs become operational across the nation, the effectiveness of the reform will ultimately be judged not by the quiet of the barracks, but by the safety of the streets and the trust of the citizens they patrol.
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