The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno has provided clarity on the decision to withdraw the Police Special Operations Taskforce, popularly known as the “Black Maria,” from the Tamale metropolis in the Northern Region.

The move had triggered youth-led demonstrations in Tamale, with calls for the task force to resume its operations targeting the illicit drug trade.

Speaking to members of the Special Operations Taskforce in Accra on Monday, March 9, the IGP emphasised that the unit was intended for temporary assignments rather than permanent deployment in any one location.

He noted that the team had successfully completed its mandate in Tamale, which informed the decision to relocate.

“We went to Ashanti South and Diaso and all the rest, and over there, it was fabulous. When I was withdrawing you, it was a problem. Why did I withdraw you, people from there? When you say a special team, it doesn’t become a permanent team.

"You go somewhere, you perform your duties, leave the rest for the local police to do, and then you move on to another place,” he explained.

He urged the public to understand the unit's operational nature and to support ongoing police efforts to maintain law and order across the country.