The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed all Commissioners of Police across the country to immediately conduct a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition in their respective commands, in what authorities describe as a critical step to tighten internal accountability and improve operational readiness.
Disu issued the directive on Tuesday in Abuja during an emergency conference with Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands, stressing that the exercise must be thorough, transparent, and properly documented, with detailed reports submitted to Force Headquarters without delay.
According to him, the nationwide audit is aimed at strengthening accountability mechanisms within the Nigeria Police Force, identifying existing operational gaps, and ensuring accurate assessment of the force’s tactical and logistical needs.
He emphasised that the exercise was not a routine administrative procedure but a strategic security measure designed to prevent misuse of firearms and ensure that all police assets are properly accounted for and efficiently deployed.
“The objective is clear: we must know what we have, where it is, and how it is being used. Anything less compromises national security and internal discipline,” he said.
The police chief disclosed that the Force had intensified ongoing reforms within its operational architecture, including the reorganisation of state-level anti-crime units and the restructuring of tactical response formations.
He announced that the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units had been transformed into a new operational structure known as the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), which he described as a “fundamental shift” in Nigeria’s approach to combating violent crime.
“This is not a rebranding exercise. The VCRU represents a complete reorientation of our tactical response to serious and violent crimes across the country,” Disu said.
He explained that personnel assigned to the new unit had undergone specialised training in tactical operations, intelligence gathering, human rights compliance, and rules of engagement in line with modern policing standards.
Disu further stated that civilian oversight had been integrated into the operational framework of the VCRU to ensure transparency and accountability in its activities.
He added that deployments under the new structure would be strictly intelligence-driven, warning that no officer would be deployed on speculation or arbitrary orders.
“All operations must be based on credible intelligence. The era of indiscriminate or uncoordinated tactical deployments is over,” he said.
The IGP also disclosed that Commissioners of Police would bear direct responsibility for the discipline, conduct, and operational outcomes of the VCRU in their respective commands, noting that the unit would operate under their authority.
He directed all CPs to publicly launch the VCRU in their states with full participation of community stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and members of the press.
“Nigerians must understand what this unit stands for, how it operates, and how to hold it accountable. Transparency is central to its legitimacy,” he added.
The police leadership said the reforms were part of broader efforts to reposition the force for more effective crime control, improved professionalism, and enhanced public trust.
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