Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has directed the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of a broader strategy to reinforce security operations and address operational challenges across the country.
The directive was announced on Tuesday during the Monthly Strategic Conference with senior police officers held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre in Abuja.
According to the IGP, the deployment will take effect from June 15, 2026, and is designed to strengthen oversight, improve coordination, and enhance accountability within police formations nationwide. He explained that the move would also ensure that senior leadership remains closely connected to field operations and security activities across the zones.
As part of efforts to improve law enforcement and public safety, Disu ordered the immediate nationwide enforcement of regulations targeting vehicles operating without registration plates, as well as those using concealed, altered, or defaced number plates. He warned that violations of these regulations would no longer be overlooked.
The police chief also reaffirmed that the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State remains a top national security priority. He stated that the Nigeria Police Force, working alongside other security agencies, is actively pursuing efforts to ensure the victims are safely returned.
“We are making progress over efforts to rescue the abducted Oyo school children and teachers. The full operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force, in coordination with other security agencies, is fully committed to securing their safe return,” he said.
Highlighting achievements recorded since the last strategic conference, Disu revealed that security operations led to the rescue of 88 kidnapped victims and the arrest of numerous suspects linked to various criminal offences.
He disclosed that law enforcement authorities apprehended 29 suspected murder suspects, 65 individuals connected to armed robbery cases, and 55 suspected kidnappers during the review period.
The IGP further reported that eight suspected terrorists were arrested, while 42 individuals linked to cult-related activities were taken into custody. Security operatives also recovered 114 firearms, 843 rounds of ammunition, and 28 stolen vehicles from criminal elements.
Disu additionally revealed details of a recent intelligence-driven operation carried out in the Federal Capital Territory, where security operatives arrested five suspected kidnappers before they could carry out planned attacks within Abuja.
He described the successful operation as a reflection of enhanced intelligence gathering capabilities and the effectiveness of proactive policing measures being implemented across the country.
To strengthen security coordination among states and limit the movement of criminal groups, the IGP instructed Commissioners of Police nationwide to establish coordinated “Handshake Patrols” between neighbouring states. The initiative is intended to prevent criminals from exploiting state boundaries to evade arrest and continue criminal activities.
He also ordered increased surveillance on major entry and exit routes across the country, improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms among commands, and stronger joint operational responses whenever required.
The latest directives form part of ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to improve national security, combat violent crime, and enhance public confidence in law enforcement operations.
