Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has urged officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) not to become complacent following the successful rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State, describing the operation as a motivation to intensify efforts against crime.
Disu gave the charge while addressing senior officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja during the NPF’s monthly strategic conference held yesterday.
He said the rescue operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration, attributing its success to the combined efforts of the police, the armed forces, other security agencies and members of the public who provided credible information.
The Inspector-General also appealed to Nigerians to continue reporting suspicious activities, noting that the country’s security landscape remains complex, with criminal groups constantly evolving their tactics.
He called for stronger intelligence gathering, enhanced surveillance and deeper collaboration among security agencies. Disu further directed Commissioners of Police to develop security strategies tailored to the unique challenges in their respective states instead of relying on routine policing.
According to him, the effectiveness of police commands should be measured by improvements in security rather than the number of operations carried out. He also instructed that every operation should undergo a post-action review to identify lessons learned and improve future responses.
Providing an update on police activities since the last strategic conference held on June 9, the IGP disclosed that 1,198 suspects were arrested across the country.
The breakdown includes:
- 151 suspects arrested for murder and culpable homicide
- 117 suspects arrested for armed robbery
- 151 suspects arrested for kidnapping
- 104 suspected cultists arrested
- 169 suspects arrested for illegal firearm possession
Disu added that police operatives also achieved the following during the period:
- 166 kidnap victims rescued
- 166 firearms recovered
- 1,475 rounds of ammunition recovered
- 47 stolen vehicles recovered
