Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu don issue strong warning to newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) wey dem promote recently. The IGP talk say dem no go tolerate any form of indiscipline, abuse of office, corruption or dereliction of duty under dia command.
Disu give dis warning on Monday for Abuja during decoration ceremony for di newly promoted senior officers for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall inside Force Headquarters. Di police boss talk say di promotion na call to higher responsibility, no be reward, and say dem go hold di officers accountable for wetin dey happen under dia watch.
“From dis moment, una no be just senior officers again; una be strategic leaders for Nigeria Police Force,” Disu yarn. “Una suppose lead from front. Wetin una do, di decisions wey una take, and how una dey behave must show discipline, integrity, and total respect for rule of law.”
Di IGP emphasize say di officers must ensure zero tolerance for any bad behavior under dia command. He talk say dem go hold dem responsible not only for operational results but also for how officers under dia supervision dey behave. “Una must know wetin dey happen for una commands at all times. Lax supervision dey breed misconduct; strong leadership dey enforce standards,” Disu add.
Di police boss talk say Nigeria Police Force under im leadership dey fully committed to people-oriented policing, and say dis one no be optional but core operational principle. He urge di senior officers to make sure say policing for dia areas dey driven by professionalism, respect for human rights, and responsiveness to public needs.
Disu emphasize say officers must dey visible, approachable, and accountable, and talk say di era of policing wey dey alienate people don finish. “We must build trust deliberately and consistently. Intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and effective law enforcement all dey strong pass when public get confidence for us,” he talk.
Di IGP also direct di newly promoted officers to embrace innovation, improve operational efficiency, and eliminate outdated practices wey no align with modern policing standards. He announce say all newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and AIGs go proceed on strategic leadership retreat from March 24, 2026.
Di retreat, wey Police Reform Secretariat organize in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), na to strengthen transformational leadership, professionalism, and modern policing practices. Disu talk say participation na mandatory and go provide platform for reflection, alignment, and capacity building to sustain reforms inside di Force.
Meanwhile, separate matter don come up as IGP Disu don summon Chairman of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), Chief Superintendent of Police Tayo Akerele, over allegations of high-handedness, extortion and corruption against operatives of di unit.
Di invitation follow rising allegations on social media, with increasing calls by Lagos residents for Akerele removal. Di controversy begin after blogger post videos accuse Task force operatives of extortion, human rights violations and land grabbing.
Sources talk say di IGP, wey dey known for advocating humane and professional policing, consider di allegations disturbing, especially as di Force dey undergo reforms. “CSP Akerele don receive invitation to Force Headquarters on Monday to meet IGP. Di allegations too serious to ignore. Wetin go happen after di meeting go determine im fate,” source talk.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, don warn Task force operatives against misconduct, and vow say dem go sanction any officer wey dem find guilty of corruption, extortion or abuse of authority. Jimoh caution say di command no go hesitate to disband any unit wey dey operate contrary to strategic direction of IGP.
Di CP assure residents say any officer wey dem find to dey violate citizens rights go face full weight of law and urge public to provide evidence to support complaints. He recall how five policemen from another state wey involve for shooting at Owode Onirin Market last year dem track, arrest and prosecute.
“We no go defend any police officer wey involve for wrongdoing. If I fit charge five officers to court over Owode Onirin case, nobody go escape where misconduct dey established,” Jimoh talk. He add say di command don already deploy newly screened and reoriented officers to Task force and go collaborate with human rights organisations and civil society groups to strengthen professionalism inside di unit.
Di CP urge residents to take ownership of policing, stress say security require collective responsibility. “We no perfect, but we dey open to corrections and advice from public. E correct to call us out when we do wrong, but false or malicious allegations dey demoralize officers and dey embolden criminals,” he talk.
Jimoh talk say di command investigate allegations wey Object TV circulate and find no wrongdoing by Task force operatives, add say di suspect wey involve dem charge to court for violating traffic laws without any breach of rights. He reiterate say law enforcement actions must dey guided strictly by legal provisions and due process.
Di CP talk say fresh training and reorientation don begin for Taskforce personnel to address complaints and reinforce professionalism, warn say verified misconduct fit attract sanctions, including possible restructuring of di unit. He also defend use of unmarked vehicles and covert operations, describe dem as essential tools for tackling urban crime and traffic violations.
Jimoh note say such strategies don help improve responses to opportunistic crimes across Lagos. He further urge residents to avoid vilifying law enforcement officers and instead support ongoing police-community engagement initiatives wey dey aim to strengthen trust and collaboration.
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