By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People\u2019s Security Monitor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cancelled annual leave for police officers and men assigned to election security duties ahead of the 2027 general elections, while ordering an intensified nationwide offensive against banditry and other security threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disu also directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel, operational vehicles and air support to communities facing persistent bandit attacks. He gave Commissioners of Police in affected states 72 hours to submit updated security threat assessments and operational requirements to the Force Headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The directives were announced on Wednesday during the monthly conference of strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, where the IGP reviewed the country’s security situation and preparations for the forthcoming general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acknowledging that bandit attacks remained a serious concern in some parts of the country, Disu said the police leadership would not overlook the security challenges confronting vulnerable communities. He stressed the need for sustained intelligence-led operations and stronger collaboration with local stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He consequently directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations to coordinate the deployment of additional personnel, mobility assets and air support to the worst-affected areas in consultation with the relevant state commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The IGP further instructed Commissioners of Police to submit specific threat assessments and operational requirements within 72 hours, insisting that security reports must identify actual threats and the resources needed to address them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also ordered police commands to maintain standing operational plans for high-risk areas and strengthen intelligence gathering through traditional rulers, village heads, hunters’ associations and recognised local vigilante groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him, community participation remains essential to identifying criminal networks and preventing attacks, noting that residents possess valuable information about the activities and identities of criminal elements operating in their localities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On preparations for the 2027 general elections, Disu directed the immediate cancellation of leave for all officers and personnel assigned election security responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also ordered Commissioners of Police and other senior officers to remain within their respective commands until the conclusion of the electoral process. Any official journey outside their areas of responsibility must receive express approval from the Force Headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The police chief further directed state commands to conduct comprehensive assessments of their election security equipment, communication facilities, operational vehicles and protective gear, with reports expected at the end of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To strengthen inter-agency cooperation, he instructed Commissioners of Police to establish effective coordination with the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disu warned officers against allowing politicians and other influential individuals to compromise their professional responsibilities or use police authority to advance partisan interests. He maintained that the police must remain neutral and guarantee equal protection for political parties, candidates, supporters and eligible voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He cautioned that any personnel found collaborating with political actors to facilitate electoral violence, intimidate voters or undermine the credibility of the elections would face disciplinary action in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the IGP disclosed that police operations since the last strategic officers’ conference had resulted in the arrest of 218 suspects for banditry and terrorism, 85 suspected armed robbers, 129 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 59 suspected kidnappers and 120 suspected cultists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that 95 kidnapped victims had been rescued, while 306 assorted firearms, 630 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 116 stolen vehicles were recovered during the period under review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disu commended police personnel involved in the operations, describing their courage and commitment as instrumental to the achievements recorded by the Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On personnel welfare, the IGP directed Commissioners of Police to ensure the immediate processing and payment of outstanding death benefits and other entitlements owed to families of officers who died in active service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He insisted that families of fallen officers must not be abandoned to financial hardship and instructed state police chiefs to personally verify all pending cases in their respective commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The police leadership also ordered a comprehensive welfare audit across police formations to identify outstanding entitlements, accommodation deficiencies and other pressing personnel needs. The resulting reports are expected to reach the IGP’s office within 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disu equally charged senior officers to strengthen supervision, discipline and operational efficiency, warning that corruption, extortion, abuse of authority and unlawful use of force would not be tolerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting lives and property, combating criminality and ensuring a peaceful, credible and secure electoral environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People\u2019s Security Monitor The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cancelled annual leave for police officers and men assigned to election security duties ahead of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":31894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pages"],"yoast_head":"\n