Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba has ordered the immediate disbandment of the IGP Monitoring Units in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Baba gave the order in Abuja at the opening of a conference of Police Strategic Commanders, consisting of officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) and above.

He also ordered the streamlining of the personnel profile of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters to not more than 50 operatives.

He said: “In furtherance to our Force reorganization 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 Force headquarters to not more than 50 operatives and banning of the unit from undertaking criminal investigations, including taking over cases from commands.

“Under the current dispensation, the unit will only operate within its original mandate, which is to investigate complaints of professional infractions that may be alleged against any serving officer and case may be referred to them by my office.

“Similarly, repositioning initiatives are being worked out in relation to other ad hoc investigation units in the Force.

‘’This is with a view to restoring professionalism, address citizens’ concerns on rights abuses, resulting from the existence and operations of these ad hoc Police investigations units and to discourage duplication of Police functions in a manner that encourages indiscipline and abuse of Police process.’’