IGP Disu sets new directives for police commands, unveils crime response unit
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Tuesday set new operational directives for police commands nationwide and unveiled a specialised crime response unit during an emergency conference with senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting brought together members of the force management team, assistant inspectors-general of police, and commissioners of police, alongside representatives of the media. It focused on reinforcing accountability within the force and outlining strategic operational directives for commands and formations nationwide.
In his address, the police chief stressed the need for transparency, discipline, and leadership responsibility, noting that the country’s evolving security challenges require a more responsive and intelligence-driven policing approach.
Disu also addressed the recent extrajudicial killing of a suspect in Delta State, describing the act as unlawful and inconsistent with the values of the force. He confirmed that the officers involved had been dismissed and that the case had been forwarded for criminal prosecution, reiterating a zero-tolerance stance on misconduct.
The IGP disclosed that intelligence-led operations conducted in April 2026 resulted in the arrest of 28 suspected terrorists, 51 murder suspects, 62 armed robbery suspects, 85 kidnapping suspects, and 54 suspected cultists. He added that 189 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 140 firearms, 1,074 rounds of ammunition, and 37 stolen vehicles were recovered.
As part of the new directives and reforms, Disu announced the establishment of a Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), a restructured tactical formation aimed at strengthening the force’s response to serious crimes. He said the unit would operate on intelligence-based deployment, with strict adherence to human rights and accountability, under the direct supervision of commissioners of police.
The IGP further directed commissioners across the country to strengthen community policing through regular town hall meetings with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders. He also mandated that police chiefs make their contact details available to community leaders to enhance communication and public trust.
Disu reiterated that ongoing reforms within the force are centred on professionalism, discipline, human rights compliance, and public accountability, supported by mechanisms such as the Police Complaints Response Unit.
