Abba Kyari: IGP Disbands All Intelligence Response Teams, Special Tactical Squad Satellite Units
Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, has reportedly dissolved all satellite units of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) across the nation.
According to ChannelsTV, a police source confirmed the development on Tuesday, adding that officers serving in the dissolved units have been asked to report to Abuja for debriefing before they get reassigned to other commands across the nation.
Read Also: NDLEA Confirms Arrest Of Abba Kyari, 4 Policemen For Alleged Cocaine Deal
The report comes a day after the arrest of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, Abba Kyari and others by authorities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over alleged drug dealings.
NDLEA in a lengthy statement revealed how Kyari proposed to sell about 25kg of cocaine and offered undercover NDLEA officers the sum of $61,400.
Before his suspension over links with convicted fraudster Hushpuppi, Kyari was the Commander of tbe Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at Force Intelligence Bureau of Nigerian Police Force.
According to NDLEA, Mr Kyari, despite being on suspension, still carried out the illegal activities using the police badge.
NDLEA maintained that the disgraced police chief had ties to drug cartels strong-arming the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria channel.
While all operations of the special units were to remain shutdown across the country, the IRT and STS would remain functional only in the Force’s headquarters in Guzape, Abuja.
The IGP said the active IRT and STS units in Abuja would serve the purpose of fortifying the police force to tackle new criminal trends.
Meanwhile, the Force management also directed that the IRT/STS Headquarters in Abuja should be fortified and organised for enhanced operational performance to combat emerging trends.
In July 2020, the then-Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had directed the disbandment of the satellite offices and bases of the IRT and STS, leaving the headquarters of the units under the State Investigation Bureau as a response to the public outcry on human rights infringement by some officers of these units.
Civil society organisations had also commended the disbandment, stressing that most of the alleged atrocities that have dented the image of the Police were carried out at the satellite bases, where the operatives acted with impunity.
According to them, the IG’S decision was to ensure that IRT Officers operate in the various state commands under the strict supervision and control of the state commissioners.
The Commissioners of Police would be held responsible for any excesses and failure of the operatives or failure to hold them accountable for a breach of due process.
The formations of the two units of the police followed moves by the Force Headquarters to reposition the police and ensure accountability and due process.
