The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has merged all tactical squads into a single unit called the Violent Crime Response Unit, effective April 17, 2026. Commissioner of Police CP Ahmed Sanusi announced the restructuring during an emergency security meeting at the Command Headquarters, citing the need for improved operational efficiency and discipline. The move follows a directive from Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu to reduce tactical teams nationwide, limiting State and Zonal Commands to five teams and Area Commands and Divisions to three. The VCRU will now be the sole unit responsible for responding to violent crimes in the FCT, aiming to provide a more coordinated response framework. A statement issued by FCT police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said Sanusi emphasized zero tolerance for misconduct, warning officers against extortion, harassment, and unprofessional behaviour. Supervisory officers will be held vicariously liable for the actions of their subordinates, and the X-Squad has been tasked with intensifying surveillance on personnel to enforce compliance. Sanusi commended recent crime reduction in the FCT but urged sustained vigilance and proactive engagement with emerging threats. He appealed to residents to support security efforts by sharing credible information, while cautioning against provoking confrontations with officers to record videos for online sharing. The PUNCH had earlier reported on March 22, 2026, that the IGP issued the directive to streamline tactical units in response to public complaints.
CP Ahmed Sanusi is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on police misconduct even as he dismantles the very units whose unchecked autonomy often enabled such abuses. The same officers now under threat of sanction were previously allowed to operate in fragmented squads, raising questions about why oversight failed until a national directive forced reform. Residents of the FCT are expected to cooperate with police while being told not to film confrontations, yet no mechanism is offered to verify accountability when incidents occur. The restructuring may centralize response, but it does not explain how a unit with concentrated power will avoid the excesses the old system permitted.
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