The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has announced a major overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force’s anti-crime architecture with the scrapping of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units and the introduction of a new outfit, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
The restructuring comes amid rising concerns over accountability within the Force, following public outrage over a viral video showing an officer, identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Nuhu Usman, shooting a handcuffed man at close range after allegedly discovering a suspicious package.
In response to the incident, four police officers led by ASP Usman were dismissed from service, while their case files have been forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for prosecution.
Speaking during a meeting with senior officers in Abuja on Tuesday, Disu said the newly created VCRU would replace SWAT and operate under stricter oversight, with a strong emphasis on professionalism and accountability.
“Critically, civilian oversight has been built into the operational framework of the VCRU from the very beginning. These units will operate strictly on the basis of credible intelligence, and their operations will be subject to structured review,” Disu said.
According to him, officers of the VCRU will receive specialised training in tactical operations, intelligence gathering, human rights compliance, and rules of engagement, while Commissioners of Police will retain full operational control of the unit in their respective states.
He also directed that the rollout of the unit be carried out with public visibility and stakeholder participation.
As part of broader reforms, the police chief also ordered an immediate nationwide audit of arms and ammunition across all state commands, describing the move as a critical step toward strengthening internal accountability and preventing misuse of weapons.
“I hereby direct all Commissioners of Police to immediately undertake a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition within their respective Commands. This exercise must be thorough, transparent, and properly documented, with detailed reports forwarded to the Force Headquarters within the stipulated timeframe,” he said.
He stressed that the audit was not routine but a key intervention to improve operational efficiency and oversight.
Condemning the killing captured in the viral video, Disu described the act as unlawful and a gross violation of professional standards, vowing that justice would be pursued.
“That act was wrong. It was unlawful. It violated the sanctity of human life and the professional standards of this Force,” he said.
“This matter will not be swept aside. Accountability will be pursued to its full and logical conclusion.”