Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the immediate disbandment of the IGP Monitoring Satellite Offices in Lagos and Port Harcourt over complaints of harassment and operating beyond their briefs by Nigerians.
Alkali gave the order at his maiden meeting with police commissioners and senior officers on Thursday.
He further stated that the ban became necessary to enable him reorganize and return the force to basics in policing.
The Acting IGP said the police will instead focus on re-organising the teams to enhance their operation. He said under the new arrangement, the Unit will now operate within their original mandate which is to investigate complaints of professional infractions that may be alleged against any serving officer and as may be referred to them by his office.
“In furtherance to our Force reorganisation plans as well as our commitment to return to the basics in policing, I have directed the immediate reform of the IGP Monitoring Unit.
“This involves the disbandment of the satellite offices of the Unit in Lagos and Port Harcourt, the streamlining of the personnel profile of the Unit at the Force Headquarters to not more than fifty (50) operatives, and the banning of the Unit from undertaking criminal investigations including taking over cases from State Commands.
“Under the current dispensation, the Unit will only operate within their original mandate which is to investigate complaints of professional infractions that may be alleged against any serving officer and as may be referred to them by my Office. Similar repositioning initiatives are being worked out in relation to other ad hoc investigative Units in the Force. This is with a view to restore professionalism, address citizens’ concerns on rights abuses resulting from the existence and operations of these ad hoc police investigation Units and to discourage duplication of police functions in a manner that encourages indiscipline and abuse of police process”, he said.
