IGP visits military commands, seeks stronger synergy to tackle insecurity
By Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has called for stronger synergy with the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Air Force to combat
By Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has called for stronger synergy with the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Air Force to combat insecurity across the country.
The IGP also sought their cooperation in training personnel and improving intelligence gathering and sharing to address security challenges.
Disu made the call on Wednesday during separate visits to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, at their offices.
Speaking at the Naval Headquarters, the IGP acknowledged that the country is facing serious security challenges that require collective efforts to address.
He said, “We do not have another country but Nigeria. The country is vast, and the operational environment is extensive, with difficult terrain for all of us—large bodies of water, internal waterways, hard-to-reach areas, and hills. We have no alternative but to cooperate with one another.”
The IGP said the Nigerian Navy has been of great assistance to the Police, especially to its marine branch.
"We want stronger cooperation between the Nigerian Police and the Naval Police," he said.
Disu also highlighted other areas of cooperation with the Navy, noting that investigations involving personnel engaged in criminal activities would be more seamless with stronger inter-agency collaboration.
He added that the Nigerian Police is revamping its intelligence gathering opportunities and is ready to share with other security agencies.
In the area of training, the IGP said the Police has increased the quota for Nigerian Navy officers on advanced detective courses.
"Training has improved our ability to gather wonderful intelligence. And we want to let you know that we are ready to share intelligence with you," he said.
Disu said the Police under his watch will not deploy without intelligence, saying "Those eras are over. We are going to use intelligence policing.”
The IGP disclosed that the Police was reforming its mobile unit to better operate with the military.
"We are working on our mobile police as well. We want to revamp the old ways of cooperation between us and the military,” he said.
"We want you to clear certain areas and hand them over to the military police. We are working towards it. Very soon we will see a new mobile police force in the Nigerian Police Force.”
Vice Admiral Abas assured the IGP of the Nigerian Navy's readiness to collaborate with the Nigeria Police, and conduct intelligence-driven operations.
"We have to work together and we have to carry out all our operations based on intelligence. It is clearly captured in my vision that intelligence-based operations and synergy with other security agencies are critical to achieving effective and sustainable security outcomes.”
The Naval Chief said the country is at war, thus every hand must be on deck, adding, “We must cooperate so that, in the shortest possible time, we can all go back and rest.”
“I want to assure you that you will receive every cooperation and collaboration you require from us. We have been doing that,” the Naval Chief said.
He said the Nigerian Navy had earmarked training slots and urged the Police Chief to release marine police officers to participate in the programme under the Navy.
Vice Admiral Abbas said the Navy has established the Maritime Crime Investigation Desk to investigate maritime crimes in liaison with Interpol.
At the Army Headquarters, the IGP emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration and sustained inter-agency synergy between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force to more effectively tackle prevailing internal security threats.
He commended the long-standing and strategic partnership between both institutions, noting that such cooperation remains vital to the attainment of national security objectives.
Disu expressed appreciation to the COAS for his commitment to capacity development, particularly the Nigerian Army’s support in training Police Mobile Force personnel, which has significantly enhanced operational effectiveness across multiple theatres.
He also assured the Army of continued intelligence sharing and operational coordination to reinforce joint efforts in ongoing and future security operations.
The Chief of Army Staff stressed the need for a unified and coordinated approach among security agencies in order to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to deepening jointness with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in line with his command philosophy.
Shaibu recalled that his professional relationship with the IGP dates back to their joint service in the United Nations Mission in Darfur, reflecting a shared foundation of cooperation in complex operational environments.
The Army Chief also acknowledged the invaluable support of the Nigeria Police, particularly in counterterrorism operations in Kogi, Kwara and Niger states, stressing that the cooperation has continued to yield favourable results.
He assured the IGP of the Nigerian Army’s sustained support for the Nigeria Police Force, reiterating that only through a unified and well-coordinated inter-agency framework can enduring peace and security be achieved nationwide.
