Nigeria’s policing structure is set for a major shake-up following what is now being described as the IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul, after the Inspector-General of Police issued an order dismantling all special units and tactical squads across the country.
The directive, confirmed through police sources, takes immediate effect and affects a wide network of units that have operated for years as rapid-response and specialised enforcement teams. Rather than reforming them individually, the current leadership has opted for a clean break, folding their functions back into the mainstream police system. The decision forms a central part of the wider IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul, which appears aimed at resetting how frontline policing is organised.
Units affected by the directive
Among those disbanded are the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anti-Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping teams, Scorpion Squad, Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Monitoring Units, Tiger Squad, Gender Units, and Anti-Robbery squads.
These formations were originally created to deal with specific threats, from violent crime to organised networks. Over time, however, their roles expanded, and in some cases became blurred, especially at state and zonal levels.
Return to conventional policing
Officers attached to the dissolved units are to be reassigned to standard duties. These include patrol operations, divisional investigations under the Divisional Crime Branch (DCB), work within the Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC), and routine beat policing.
Senior officers say the intention of the IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul is to rebalance the force, placing more personnel in visible, community-facing roles rather than in specialised teams that often operated with limited public oversight.
In practical terms, residents may begin to see a stronger presence of uniformed officers in neighbourhood patrols, checkpoints, and local stations.
Background to IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul
Public debate around how some specialised teams operate has been building for quite some time. Concerns raised in civic discussions, media reports, and by advocacy groups have centred on accountability and day-to-day conduct in the field. Even where issues were not widespread, the perception problem has lingered.
In the past, responses from authorities often involved adjustments such as rebranding units, updating operational guidelines, or redeploying officers. This latest decision takes a different route by removing those structures entirely rather than trying to modify them.
A senior security source familiar with internal discussions described the approach as “structural rather than cosmetic”, suggesting the aim is to prevent the re-emergence of problematic practices under different unit names.
Seen this way, the IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul suggests a move beyond small adjustments, pointing instead to a broader rethink of how the system is set up.
Concerns around policing practices in Nigeria have been documented over time by groups such as Amnesty International, which have called for greater accountability and structural reform within the force.
Balancing reform and security needs
Reactions are expected to vary. Among younger Nigerians and many in urban areas, the move may be received as a sign that issues people have raised over time are beginning to get real attention.
Others are likely to take a more cautious view. Specialists in security and policing point out that these units were originally set up to respond quickly to complex and dangerous situations. Without them, there are questions about whether regular formations can step into that role straight away without further support.
High profile crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and organised criminal activity often depend on speed, coordination, and intelligence-led operations. It is not yet clear how those demands will be met under the revised structure, and that uncertainty is likely to shape early reactions to the policy.
Implementation will be key
Attention is now turning to how the directive will be carried out on the ground. Past reforms have sometimes faced challenges at the level of enforcement, particularly across Nigeria’s diverse state commands.
How this plays out will depend on what happens after the announcement. Inside the force, attention will turn to how smoothly officers can settle into their new roles and whether day-to-day supervision keeps pace with the changes. How effectively the IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul is carried through will likely determine how quickly these changes are felt at street level.
There are also practical details that will need to be worked through quietly but carefully. As roles begin to change, officers will need practical guidance on what is expected of them, while local commands adjust to a different way of sharing responsibilities. For people in their neighbourhoods, what will matter most is whether everyday interactions with the police feel steadier and easier to navigate.
Another immediate concern is ongoing casework. Investigations that were already in progress under the affected units cannot simply pause. They will have to be handed over in a way that keeps momentum, preserves evidence trails, and avoids starting over.
A shift in policing philosophy
Beyond the administrative changes, the directive points to a broader rethink of policing priorities. The emphasis appears to be moving towards visibility, routine engagement, and rebuilding public confidence.
Community-based policing has been discussed in Nigeria for years, but implementation has been uneven. By redistributing personnel into regular divisions, the police leadership may be attempting to give that concept more practical footing.
Whether any real change follows will become clearer with time. Announcements of this scale are one thing; what people experience in their daily encounters with the police is another.
For now, though, the directive marks a significant moment inside the force. The IGP Tunji Disu police overhaul could reshape how policing is organised if it is followed through in practice.
