… Charges Officers on Deeper Community-Police Cooperation
By Paul Williams
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that officers will conduct themselves professionally before, during and after the 2027 general elections, adding that lessons from recent polls have been used to prepare commanders and senior officers across the country.
He said the conduct of police personnel during the general elections would make Nigerians happy and proud of the force.
Disu gave the assurance in Port Harcourt at the launch of The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force, a book written by 96-year-old retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Stella Okuyiga, one of the first 20 women to join the Nigeria Police Force in 1955.
The Inspector-General of Police said the force had organised a meeting with Commissioners of Police across the country to ensure professionalism during the polls.
He said, “I want to let you know that we just finished a conference of all Commissioners of Police and other senior officers. We have had two or three elections recently, and you can see the police did very well, and we did too.
“We have now brought all these experiences together, where we did well and where we did not do well, so that we can perform better in this big election that everybody is looking up to.
“I give you my word. The Nigeria Police will do so well, and we will make the Nigeria Police so proud, and we will make Nigerians proud,” he said.
Disu further charged officers and men of the Rivers State Police Command to strengthen the existing relationship with residents in a bid to sustain peace and improve security across the state.
The Inspector-General of Police, who spoke during a meeting with officers of the command, led by Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, said the command had recorded progress in security through engagement with communities and stakeholders, but stressed that public trust and responsiveness must be deepened.
He acknowledged the existing cooperation between the police and citizens in Rivers State, assuring that, “I just spoke with my men to ensure that this cooperation is increased. So we look forward to more cooperation.”
The Inspector-General of Police said the meeting, which held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, was convened to review the command’s operations, address complaints and, most importantly, prepare officers for the 2027 election.
He directed the officers to engage stakeholders, communicate openly with residents and demonstrate accountability in the discharge of their duties.
He said the meeting “most importantly was to discuss the issue of the 2027 election. I directed them to meet with stakeholders, and clear themselves to members of the public.
“And the best way to do this is to show accountability and their response on time to members of the public whenever they seek assistance.”
The Inspector-General’s directive aligns with the Nigeria Police Force’s broader election-security approach, which places community partnership, early warning, intelligence-led policing and accountability at the centre of preparations for the 2027 polls.
Disu further commended Rivers residents for being conscious of their rights, describing them as enlightened people who defend their rights and cannot be pushed around.
“The citizens of Rivers State are very, very enlightened. You can’t push them anyhow. They stand for their right, they fight for their right,” he said.
He said the level of cooperation between residents and the police was an indication that the command was building a workable relationship with the community, adding that officers had been instructed to sustain and expand it.
The Inspector-General of Police also acknowledged the work of Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, and officers in the state, adding that their engagement with community members and stakeholders had contributed to improvements in the security situation.
He said, “I noticed that the Commissioner of Police and his men have put in a lot of work. I have been able to see the successes and have been able to interact with a lot of members of the community and a lot of stakeholders.
“Everybody is in agreement that my officers are doing so well, that they have been able to improve the security situation in the state.”
Disu placed accountability at the heart of police-community relations, urging officers to respond promptly to concerns raised by members of the public.
His comments reflect the force’s wider commitment to professional conduct, respect for citizens’ rights and timely communication as it prepares commands for election duties.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, earlier thanked the Inspector-General of Police for his fatherly advice. He said the officers and men of the state command would adhere to the advice.
Ends/
