On Wednesday, Inspector‑General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu ordered the immediate deployment of additional police personnel, operational vehicles and air support to states across Nigeria that have been hit hardest by banditry. The directive was issued during the monthly conference of senior officers held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Disu also briefed the conference on the force’s recent operational achievements. Since the last meeting, the police have arrested 611 suspects for a range of offences, including banditry, terrorism, armed robbery, murder, kidnapping and cultism. The arrests included 218 suspected bandits and terrorists, 85 armed robbers, 129 murder and culpable homicide suspects, 59 kidnappers and 120 cultists.
In addition to the arrests, officers rescued 95 kidnapped victims, recovered 306 firearms, 630 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 116 stolen vehicles during the period under review. The IGP praised the officers for these successes while acknowledging the sacrifices of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
To honour fallen officers, Disu directed the immediate settlement of outstanding death benefits and entitlements to their families. He also instructed Commissioners of Police to personally verify all pending cases concerning these entitlements in their commands, stressing that no family should be left facing financial hardship.
Addressing the ongoing banditry crisis, the IGP asked Commissioners in affected states to submit updated security threat assessments and operational requirements to Force Headquarters within 72 hours. He further instructed the Deputy Inspector‑General of Police in charge of Operations to coordinate the rapid deployment of additional personnel, mobility assets and air support to the worst‑hit areas.
Disu called for intensified intelligence‑led operations and stronger collaboration with traditional rulers, village heads, hunters’ associations and local vigilante groups to improve intelligence gathering and tackle criminal activities. “The people know who the bandits are. We must give them the confidence to tell us,” he said.
He added, “The Nigerian people did not elect any of us. We wear this uniform to protect them, and their confidence in us is not an entitlement. It is something we must earn every day through visible action. The bandits do not rest. Neither shall we.”
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
