Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has directed all commissioners of police to hold regular town hall meetings across Nigeria to advance community policing. The directive was issued Tuesday in Abuja during an emergency conference with commissioners in charge of state commands. Disu emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force cannot secure the country alone and must rely on trust, cooperation, and active partnership with the public. He instructed that these meetings must involve traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth and women's groups, and transport unions.
The IG stressed that the engagements should not be ceremonial, urging CPs to listen, share information, and build genuine partnerships. He also directed that all CPs make their contact details available to community leaders to ensure accessibility. "When a community leader needs to reach their CP, that line must be open," Disu said. He highlighted that intelligence leading to arrests often comes from communities and urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities.
Disu noted the force has ongoing retraining focused on human rights, lawful use of force, and professional conduct. The Police Complaints Response Unit remains operational 24/7, and its contact details will be shared after the conference. He acknowledged social media videos showing past police misconduct, confirming some officers were sanctioned. In April, police arrested 229 suspects: 28 for suspected terrorism, 51 for murder, 62 for armed robbery, 85 for kidnapping, and 54 for cultism. A total of 189 kidnap victims were rescued, 37 vehicles recovered, and 140 firearms with 1,074 rounds seized.
The same IG calling for open police-community lines has not explained why past misconduct cases only emerged years later on social media. If trust is now a priority, then delayed accountability undermines current outreach. Nigerians whose relatives suffered under those officers now see belated signals of reform. The rescued kidnap victims and recovered weapons show action, but the gap between past conduct and present promises remains unaddressed.
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