The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, has ordered the closure of IGP Monitoring Unit offices in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
The IGP, has also banned operatives of the Unit from undertaking criminal investigations including taking over cases from State Commands.
Alkali, who gave the order at a meeting he held with commissioners of police and above in Abuja, said the ban has become necessary to enable him reorganize and return to the force to basics in policing.
Alkali, who also ordered the reformation of the unit, 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.
The IGP, while lamenting the activities of the unit, said the reform was “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”.
