The Nigeria Police Force backed down on its initial plan to close all satellite units of the Police Intelligene Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squads (STS) in the country after media reports, FIJ can report.

A police source told FIJ that the force’s decision not to proceed with the planned closure of the units was on the advice of Mike Okiro, a former Inspector General of Police.

FIJ and several other news platforms in the country had reported that the police ordered officers serving under the IRT and STS satellite units to report at the force headquarters in Abuja for debriefing after the Abba Kyari drug controversy.

However, Muyiwa Adejobi, acting Police Public Relations Officer, said he was not aware, and that the police did not give such a directive.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: After Kyari’s Arrest, IGP Shuts All IRT, STS Satellite Units

FIJ has now exclusively obtained the original letter issued by an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGPOL) to DECOMPOL STS/IRT/ Abuja, ordering the closure.

The letter, titled ‘Police Wireless Message’, read “4001/FIB/ABJ/VOL.15/625 Order and Directive X you are directed to shut down all command bases X and collapse them to headquarters yours with immediate effect X confirm compliance X treat as very urgent please”.

The letter was dated January 26, 2022, two days after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it played along with Kyari, sa Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the IRT, to catch him in a drug deal.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Releases More Information on Abba Kyari’s ‘Drug Cartel Dealings’

NDLEA had said that on January 21, Kyari contacted an officer of the agency to broker an illegal release of some seized cocaine.

On January 25, Kyari, according to the agency, offered to send his brother with a $61,400 payment to the officer for the cocaine, but the latter refused and asked that Kyari show up in person. The AIG’s instruction to collapse the satellite units came a day after.

Kyari was arrested by the police on Monday and handed over to the NDLEA.

Meanwhile, all officers of the IRT and STS satellite units are to report at the force headquarters for general falling. FIJ learned from a police source that general falling, in this case means, that the officers will show up in Abuja for an identification parade. Subsequently, the source said, the officers may be redeployed to other police units or commands.