The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, has dissolved all satellite units of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) across the nation.

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.

Although sources told Peoples Gazette that the decision was taken last month, citizens believe the dissolution is linked to the involvement of suspended and disgraced police officer, Abba Kyari, who used operatives of the IRT to traffick hard drugs in and out of the country.

According to the Nigeria Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Kyari, despite being on suspension, still carried out illegal activities using the police badge.

The 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.

This is not the first time the special units will be dissolved. Mohammed Adamu, then IGP ordered a similar disbandment of the IRT and STS in 2020.