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By Faheem Lawal
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has approved the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to their respective geopolitical zones and directed all Commissioners of Police nationwide to immediately launch coordinated inter-state patrols, tagged “Handshake Patrols,” with neighbouring states to close jurisdictional gaps exploited by criminals.
The IGP announced the initiative on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. The deployment will take effect from Monday, June 15, 2026.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the deployment is aimed at bringing strategic leadership closer to the field, strengthening accountability, and ensuring prompt responses to emerging security threats.
He said the DIGs are expected to work closely with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police to enhance operational oversight and ensure the effective implementation of policing directives.
Speaking on the Handshake Patrols initiative, the IGP noted that criminals often exploit jurisdictional gaps by committing offences in one state and escaping to another. He therefore charged Commissioners of Police to maintain regular engagement with neighbouring commands, conduct coordinated patrols along major entry and exit routes, and adopt a regional approach to tackling security challenges.
The initiative is designed to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve operational communication, and facilitate joint responses to crimes that cut across state boundaries.
