The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has called for stronger collaboration between police commands, the media, and local communities to combat crime and improve security across Nigeria.
Speaking to senior officers in Abuja, he directed Commissioners of Police nationwide to adopt coordinated security strategies, especially among neighboring states, to stop criminals from exploiting jurisdictional gaps.
According to the IGP, offenders often commit crimes in one state and flee to another, taking advantage of weak inter-state coordination. “Criminals do not respect state boundaries.
Too often, offenders exploit jurisdictional gaps by committing crimes in one state and escaping to another. This practice must be disrupted through deliberate collaboration and joint operational planning,” he said.
To address this, IGP Disu ordered all CPs in contiguous states to establish coordinated patrols along major entry and exit routes linking neighboring states. He emphasized the need to strengthen intelligence-sharing, keep operational communication channels open at all times, and initiate joint responses when required.
He also directed CPs to maintain direct contact with counterparts in neighboring states and regularly review security deployments, noting that security challenges should be approached from a regional, not purely territorial, perspective.
The police chief also stressed the role of the media in shaping public perception and building confidence in law enforcement. He urged commanders to maintain professional and constructive engagement with journalists beyond routine arrest announcements. “Our relationship with journalists should not be limited to announcing arrests.
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It should also involve timely clarification of facts, proactive dissemination of information, and responsible management of misinformation and disinformation directed at the Nigerian Police Force,” he stated.
He expressed concern over fake news and recycled videos aimed at misleading the public and undermining trust in the police, warning that the information space must not be surrendered to criminals.
On community policing, IGP Disu reaffirmed its importance as a practical policing philosophy, not just a slogan. “The police cannot effectively secure Nigeria without the active support and partnership of the community we serve.
Security is best achieved when law enforcement agencies work in genuine partnership with citizens,” he said. He noted that the most valuable intelligence often comes from ordinary citizens who trust the police enough to share information.
To deepen community participation, he directed all CPs to strengthen engagement structures within their commands and institutionalize monthly stakeholder meetings.
These engagements, he said, should be properly documented and sustained to enhance trust, improve intelligence gathering, and foster stronger police-community relations.
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