The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, on Thursday addressed senior police officers at the Strategic Police Officers Conference held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Abuja, outlining sweeping security measures to curb rising criminal attacks across the country.
In his remarks, the IGP described the recent abductions in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states — involving worshippers, schoolgirls and pupils — as painful reminders that “a single breach anywhere is a disruption of peace everywhere in Nigeria.”
Egbetokun acknowledged public concerns over the incidents but stressed that the Police Force has been responsive, leading successful joint rescue operations in Kwara and Kebbi states through coordinated deployments, intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration.
He said the outcomes reaffirm that “crime is defeated fastest when response is unified, intelligence-driven and operationally coordinated,” adding that such synergy must now become the institutional standard for policing nationwide.
New Security Measures Announced
The IGP unveiled a series of enhanced policing strategies aimed at boosting territorial dominance, improving intelligence gathering and strengthening response mechanisms. These include:
- A stronger native intelligence network: Commands are to expand intelligence frameworks into markets, transport unions, student bodies, religious institutions and rural communities, supported by actionable analysis from Intelligence Response Cells.
- Reinforced community policing structures: Police commands are directed to deepen collaboration with traditional rulers, vigilante groups, youth organisations and local hunters to build grassroots security ownership.
- Massive increase in policing visibility: Commands must activate layered foot patrols, convoy-style highway patrols, night confidence patrols and data-driven sector deployments to deter criminals.
- Stronger partnerships with sister agencies: Egbetokun ordered joint patrols, shared intelligence briefings, unified threat responses and coordinated border-security operations, especially in high-risk states.
“These methods are proven policing fundamentals,” he said. “Nigeria wins when the police work ahead of crime, not behind it.”
VIP Police Withdrawal: 566 Personnel Recalled
Egbetokun also clarified the recent presidential directive on withdrawing police personnel from VIP protection assignments, describing it as a necessary realignment of national security priorities.
He emphasised that the measure is not punitive but a strategic shift to redirect manpower to critical security needs such as rural protection, highway safety, investigative capacity and rapid response operations.
So far, 566 officers have been recalled for redeployment to active policing duties.
The IGP warned against misinformation, stressing that implementation guidelines will be released in phases to prevent exploitation by “undesirable elements.”
Operational Achievements
The police chief disclosed notable operational successes achieved since the last strategic meeting, including:
- 8,202 arrests for various offences, including 451 for armed robbery, 356 for kidnapping and 534 for homicide.
- 249 firearms and 20,989 rounds of ammunition recovered.
- 238 stolen vehicles recovered.
- 232 kidnapped victims rescued nationwide.
Festive Season Deployment
With the approaching festive season, Egbetokun directed all state commands to activate comprehensive seasonal security plans featuring:
- Expanded highway patrols
- Special foot patrols in motor parks and public areas
- AI-driven policing tools, including drones
- Inter-agency route protection patrols
- Mandatory visibility-hours reporting
“Let this festive period be defined by safety, policing dominance and citizen confidence — not fear,” he said.
Commends President Tinubu
The IGP thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for renewed federal backing toward logistics, recruitment, operational mobility, training and welfare, assuring that the Force will “justify this trust through outcomes and not excuses.”
Egbetokun ended his address by urging police commanders to return to their jurisdictions with “renewed urgency, clarity of strategy and determination of execution,” adding that the Nigeria Police Force remains fully committed to its constitutional mandate.
“Nigeria depends on us, and we will not fail her,” he said.
