The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared to secure future elections across the country, while intensifying efforts to combat insecurity and other emerging threats.
Disu gave the assurance on Wednesday during an official visit to Enugu State, where he commissioned the newly established Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation and held strategic engagements with officers and men of the Enugu State Police Command.
The police chief described the forensic facility as one of the most advanced on the African continent, saying it would significantly strengthen criminal investigations, intelligence gathering and prosecution of offenders nationwide.
“This is a state-of-the-art forensic centre. I think it is the second or third in the whole of Africa. It is a thing of joy, and that is why I came,” he said.
Beyond inaugurating the facility, the IGP said the visit also provided an opportunity to personally commend officers serving in Enugu for their dedication and operational successes in tackling crime.
“I came to thank them personally for the wonderful job they have been doing. Every day I receive reports of arrests of kidnappers, recovery of arms and efforts that have brought crime to the barest minimum,” he stated.
Speaking on preparations for future elections, Disu expressed confidence in the capacity of the police to provide adequate security, citing the force’s performance during the recent Enugu North Senatorial District by-election as evidence of its readiness.
He noted that continuous training and periodic review of operational procedures would further strengthen the force’s ability to deliver credible election security.
“As the lead security agency during elections, the police would continue to update its operational procedures to align with emerging laws and evolving security realities,” he said.
On the nation’s security challenges, the IGP acknowledged that criminal activities such as banditry, insurgency and kidnapping remain concerns but insisted that security agencies were making steady progress.
He paid tribute to three Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers recently killed in Maiduguri while attempting to neutralise an improvised explosive device planted by insurgents.
“Those officers wanted to save lives. They were advised to leave the operation until the following morning, but because of their dedication, they went ahead and, unfortunately, lost their lives. We are doing our best and paying the supreme price in the process,” he said.
Disu assured citizens that ongoing operations across the country would continue to yield positive outcomes in the fight against criminality.
The IGP also disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force had already developed a framework for the proposed State Police structure and submitted its recommendations to the National Assembly for consideration.
Addressing concerns about manpower shortages, he revealed that the Federal Government’s ongoing recruitment of 50,000 police personnel would strengthen operational capacity nationwide.
According to him, applicants have completed interviews and are currently undergoing medical screening, while police training institutions have been upgraded to accommodate the new intake.
He further pledged additional deployment of personnel to Enugu State following discussions with Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on strengthening security operations.
“The governor told me he has bought a large number of vehicles and we need men to man them. I have given him my word that I will increase the manpower of officers in Enugu so that the state can continue to enjoy the relative peace it is experiencing,” Disu said.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, said the IGP’s visit “underscored the police leadership’s commitment to reforms aimed at repositioning the force as a professional, technology-driven and people-oriented institution.”
Giwa noted that “Enugu remains one of the most peaceful states in the South-East” but stressed that “the command remains vigilant against threats such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence, human trafficking, farmer-herder clashes and other organised crimes.
“The command has sustained intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks, including individuals exploiting secessionist agitations and communal conflicts to perpetrate violence.”
He also credited recent investments by the Enugu State Government in security infrastructure for enhancing policing effectiveness across the state.
“The establishment of the Distress Response Squad and the Command-and-Control Centre by Governor Peter Mbah has significantly strengthened the State’s security architecture. These technology-driven initiatives have enhanced emergency response capability, improved operational coordination and intelligence management, reduced response time, and boosted the overall effectiveness of policing and crime prevention efforts within the State,” Giwa said.
The visit culminated in renewed commitments by both the police hierarchy and the Enugu State Command to deepen collaboration and sustain efforts aimed at preserving peace and security across the state and beyond.
