Police commissioners given 72 hours to submit security assessments as additional personnel, vehicles and air support are deployed to bandit-hit communities ahead of 2027 elections.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cancelled the leave of officers assigned to election security duties ahead of the 2027 general elections and ordered an intensified nationwide crackdown on banditry.
Disu also directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel, mobility and air support to communities affected by bandit attacks, giving Commissioners of Police in affected states 72 hours to submit updated security threat assessments and operational requirements.
The police chief announced the directives on Wednesday during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja. He acknowledged that bandit attacks remained a challenge in some states and ordered sustained intelligence-led operations and stronger collaboration with local communities.
He directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations to coordinate the deployment of additional resources in consultation with affected commands. He also ordered police commissioners to engage traditional rulers, village heads, hunters’ associations and local vigilante groups to strengthen community intelligence.
“Bandit attacks are ongoing in some states across the federation, and communities in those areas continue to face real threats to their safety and livelihoods,” Disu said, adding that the police would respond with concrete operational measures.
On preparations for the 2027 elections, the IGP ordered all officers assigned election security duties to suspend their leave immediately. Commissioners of Police and other senior officers were also directed to remain in their respective commands until the conclusion of the electoral process, with any travel outside their areas of responsibility requiring approval from Force Headquarters.
He further directed police commissioners to verify the readiness of election security equipment, communication facilities, vehicles and protective gear, with reports due by the end of the week.
Disu also ordered police commands to establish direct coordination with the Independent National Electoral Commission, the military, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Warning against political interference, the IGP said the police would remain non-partisan and provide equal protection to candidates, political parties, supporters and eligible voters. He cautioned officers against colluding with politicians, facilitating thuggery or interfering with voters’ rights, threatening disciplinary action against anyone found culpable.
Meanwhile, Disu disclosed that the police had arrested 218 suspects for banditry and terrorism, 85 suspected armed robbers, 129 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 59 suspected kidnappers and 120 suspected cultists since the last strategic officers’ conference.
He added that the Force rescued 95 kidnap victims and recovered 306 firearms, 630 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 116 stolen vehicles within the same period.
The IGP commended officers involved in the operations and directed Commissioners of Police to ensure that outstanding death benefits and entitlements owed to families of officers killed in the line of duty were paid without further delay.
He also ordered a welfare audit across police commands to identify unpaid entitlements, accommodation gaps and other pressing needs, directing that reports be submitted to his office within 30 days.
Disu urged senior officers to strengthen supervision, discipline and operational effectiveness, warning against corruption, extortion, abuse of authority and unlawful use of force.