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The Nigeria Police Force has commenced the training of 10,000 officers nationwide on election security management ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The five-day programme, organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), was formally declared open on Thursday, October 22, at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Declaring the training open, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, charged personnel to remain neutral, professional and accountable throughout the electoral process.
The training, which is being implemented across designated centres, focuses on election security management, crowd control, conflict prevention, rules of engagement, human rights, intelligence gathering and lawful response to election-related incidents.
According to the force, the first phase covers officers across 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory and is designed to ensure uniform operational standards ahead of nationwide deployment.
Addressing participants, the IGP said security is the foundation of a credible election and that officers deployed for election duties must protect voters, electoral officials and the process without fear or favour.
He warned that any officer who compromises the neutrality of the force would be held accountable, and directed commands to strengthen intelligence gathering, operational planning and inter-agency coordination, particularly in areas affected by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence.
The IGP also warned against political violence, voter intimidation, ballot-box snatching, vote-buying and other electoral offences, stressing that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He announced that a dedicated 24-hour complaints line would be made available for members of the public to report misconduct by personnel on election duty, and urged political parties, candidates and supporters to campaign peacefully, while encouraging the media and civil society to verify information before dissemination.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu, reaffirmed the NPTF’s commitment to supporting police preparedness through training, operational equipment and mobility, noting that the initiative is aimed at producing officers who are disciplined, impartial and responsive throughout the electoral process.
The ceremony was attended by Rear Admiral Sadiq Malaja (rtd), representing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission; Mr. Afam O. Okeke, General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association; Brigadier General J.A. Ifeanyi, representing the Chief of Army Staff; Group Captain Yakubu Yusuf, representing the Chief of Air Staff; DCG Zakari Ibrahim, representing the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; as well as members of the Force Management Team and other senior police officers.
The NPF said it remains committed to sustained training, intelligence-led planning, inter-agency collaboration and professional, neutral policing to provide a safe and secure environment for Nigerians to exercise their electoral rights during the 2027 general elections.
