The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), is focusing on proactive, intelligence-led policing and strengthening its coordination across the country.
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Egbetokun said the force is also improving the flow of actionable intelligence, and concentrating efforts on disrupting criminal networks, cutting off their logistics, denying them safe spaces, and preventing attacks rather than simply reacting after the fact.
He said this on Tuesday when he received the retired IGPs on a solidarity visit to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The IGP, who admitted that arrests alone are not enough if cases do not translate into successful prosecution, said the force is working to improve case-file integrity, evidence handling, forensic support, and investigative professionalism so that policing delivers not only immediate action but lasting deterrence and public confidence.
He said, “In responding to these realities, the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening operational effectiveness, deepening professionalism, and ensuring that our constitutional mandate is carried out with integrity, discipline, and service excellence. It is also important to state that modern policing requires more than enforcement; it requires public trust, ethical conduct, accountability, and a people-centred approach that places the citizen at the heart of our operations.
“That is why our focus is increasingly on proactive, intelligence-led policing. We are strengthening coordination across Commands, improving the flow of actionable intelligence, and concentrating efforts on disrupting criminal networks, cutting off their logistics, denying them safe spaces, and preventing attacks rather than simply reacting after the fact. We are also enhancing specialized operations and strengthening inter-agency collaboration to ensure a more unified national security response. We are paying close attention as well to the quality of investigations and the overall criminal justice outcome.”
On reforms in the force, Egbetokun said, “One of the major structural reforms we have implemented is the upgrading of our Intelligence Unit to the full status of a department, in recognition of the central role intelligence plays in modern policing and proactive crime prevention.
“In the same vein, the Legal Unit of the Force has now been elevated to a Directorate, thereby strengthening our capacity for legal oversight, improved prosecution support, rule-of-law compliance, and institutional accountability. We have also made significant progress in the area of police healthcare delivery. Our Medical Unit has been upgraded to a Directorate, and we have digitised our medical records system to improve efficiency, accessibility, and service delivery to personnel nationwide.
“We have expanded the Police Mobile Force through the establishment of additional Squadrons, raising the number from 74 to 80 across the country. This expansion is designed to enhance our rapid response capacity and improve tactical support in addressing high-risk security challenges where they arise. Additionally, new Area Commands and Divisions have been created across the Federation to bring policing closer to the people, improve command efficiency, and strengthen coverage in growing and strategic locations.
“We have also established a new tactical formation known as the Special Intervention Squad, which has already begun making a measurable impact in several states where it has been deployed for targeted operations. Distinguished Retired IGPs, beyond operational reforms, we are placing renewed emphasis on professionalism, ethics, and discipline as the foundation of effective policing”.
He disclosed that over the last two years, NPF has adhered strictly to a merit-based promotion framework, ensuring that advancement is earned through service, discipline, competence, and professionalism.
Egbetokun said, “I am pleased to inform you that, so far, a total of 141,054 officers of all ranks have been promoted under this merit-based system, reinforcing fairness, motivation, and confidence across the Force. I must also express concern over a recent campaign of calumny and misinformation being prosecuted on a daily basis through discredited social media channels known for publishing fabricated falsehoods and distorted narratives against highly placed individuals and sensitive public institutions in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to uphold professionalism, accountability, and lawful conduct, while engaging the public through facts, transparency, and responsible communication. We also count on the wisdom and guidance of respected senior leaders such as yourselves in sustaining institutional stability and public trust in the face of such challenges.
“Your visit is especially timely because the questions facing the Nigeria Police Force today are strategic: how to modernize without losing discipline, how to secure a diverse federation under pressure, and how to sustain legitimacy in an era of constant public scrutiny. These are areas where your experience remains invaluable, and your counsel is deeply welcomed. Let me assure you that we are approaching these responsibilities with seriousness, clarity of purpose, and commitment to the long-term strength of the institution. The goal is simple: a Force that is more professional, more trusted, and more capable of meeting the security needs of our country.”
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