IGP Orders DIGs to Be Redeployed to Their Respective Zones Amid Rising Insecurity

The Inspector‑General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, has directed that Deputy Inspectors‑General of Police (DIGs) be redeployed to their respective zones, effective 15 June.

The order was issued on Tuesday in Abuja during a conference with Strategic Police Managers, a group of officers holding the rank of Commissioners of Police (CPs).

Disu said the redeployment was intended to strengthen supervision, improve operational coordination, enhance accountability and provide strategic oversight of policing activities within each zone.

He added that the DIGs would work closely with Assistant Inspectors‑General of Police (AIGs) and CPs in their zones to ensure that operational directives are implemented effectively and that measurable results are achieved.

“Let me make it clear that this deployment is not ceremonial; it is intended to bring leadership closer to the field, improve the response mechanism and ensure that emergency reports receive prompt attention,” he said.

Disu also instructed CPs to immediately establish what he called “handshake” patrols to prevent criminals from committing an offence in one state and escaping to another.

He said that the practice of committing crime in one state and fleeing to another must be disrupted through deliberate collaboration and joint operational planning.

“Accordingly, CPs are to establish coordinated patrols along major entry and exit routes of their states,” he said.

“Intelligence‑sharing mechanisms should be strengthened, operational communication channels kept open at all times and joint responses initiated whenever circumstances require.”

“I expect CPs to maintain direct communications with their counterparts in neighbouring states and to jointly review security deployments on a regular basis,” he added.

The IGP said security must be approached from an original rather than purely territorial perspective.

He urged senior officers to maintain professional and constructive engagement with the media, noting that the force’s relationship with the media should not be limited to announcing arrests or personal successes.

“I also wish to address your relationship with the media because public perception can influence confidence in our institution as well as our operational outcome,” he said.

“While our primary responsibility remains intervention and reinforcement, we must recognise the importance of effective communication in shaping public understanding of our efforts.”

“I therefore encourage you to maintain a professional and constructive engagement with the media; our relationship should not be limited to announcing arrests or personal successes.”

“Your relationship with the media must also involve timely clarification of facts and information,” he said.

Disu added that the force would not surrender information space to criminals or individuals seeking to undermine public confidence in the Nigerian Police Force.

He said it is equally important to deepen the commitment to community policing, which he described as a fundamental truth.

“The police cannot effectively secure Nigeria without the active support and partnership of the communities,” he said.

He emphasised that community policing is not a slogan or a programme that exists only on paper, but a practical policing philosophy.

“The philosophy recognises that security is best achieved when enforcement agencies go into genuine partnership with citizens,” he said.

(NAN)

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