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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, on Tuesday met with senior police officers from the rank of commissioner and above, urging them to intensify surveillance across the country and deepen collaboration with other security agencies to address the security challenges confronting the nation.
The IGP also stated that the Nigeria Police Force had recorded significant successes in recent months in combating terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cult-related violence, cybercrime and other organised criminal activities.
However, he noted that success in the fight against criminality should not be measured by the number of operations undertaken but by the security outcomes produced by those operations.
He said: “Criminal activities have continued to evolve and we must evolve faster than them. That means every strategic commander needs to sharpen intelligence, strengthen surveillance, improve visibility policing and deepen collaboration with our sister agencies.
“Every department must be guided by credible intelligence and a sound assessment of the threats, not amidst routine.”
According to him, “I expect every CP to build a command-specific strategy that reflects realities on the ground and prevailing security trends.
“Every operation, successful or not, should be reviewed after completion to capture what works, fix what did not, and build those lessons into how we operate going forward.”
While emphasising the importance of effective policing, the IGP noted that effective policing starts with effective leadership, adding that commissioners of police and strategic commanders are the custodians of public confidence within their commands.
According to him, “I expect every CP to lead with purpose, keep your command operationally ready and hold your officers to the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and respect for the rights of every citizen.”
While cautioning the senior officers against any form of professional misconduct under his watch, the IGP said: “Corruption, abuse of authority, unlawful detention and any other form of unethical conduct undermine everything we are trying to build and will not be tolerated at any level.”
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On the successes recorded by the force in recent times, IGP Disu stated that the police arrested 1,198 suspects nationwide over offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, banditry, unlawful possession of firearms and other criminal activities.
He added that 117 suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 121 for kidnapping, 104 for cultism and 169 for unlawful possession of firearms.
He said 166 kidnap victims were rescued, while 166 firearms, 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 47 stolen vehicles were recovered.
According to him, behind each of these achievements is an officer who carried out his or her duty diligently, often at considerable personal risk.
He further explained that the successful rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State deserved special mention.
According to him, “It is a clear example of what can be achieved when Nigerian security agencies work together with a genuine sense of common purpose, which was what we all did together.
“The operation succeeded because of close collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, other security and intelligence agencies, and members of the public who came forward with timely and credible information.
“I commend every officer and operator who took part. Your professionalism and courage brought the victims safely home and reaffirmed something we should never lose sight of.”
He also commended members of the public whose information, he said, contributed to the success of the rescue operation, adding that lasting security depends on a genuine partnership between the police and the community.
