The Nigeria Police Force in the second half of 2023 under the command of Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun has made intelligence-led policing a cornerstone of his efforts in confronting the security challenges in the country which are noticeable with the drastic reduction in crime recently witnessed in many parts of the country which was attained through intelligence-led operations, community engagements and proactive policing. The Officers and Men of the Force should be commended for their commitment, resilience and doggedness in this regard.
Within 6 months of the 22nd IGP Egbetokun, the NPF has experienced a new policing vision anchored on discipline and professional competence, guided by the rule of law, driven by service and passion for excellence, to the admiration of Nigerian citizens, in aid of economic prosperity and socio-political development of our beloved country.
IGP Egbetokun has involved his men in special training to boost their intelligence capacity and leverage cutting-edge technology to dismantle criminal elements terrorizing our communities. There is synergy with other security agencies and collaboration with their respective host communities, thus, contributing to the reduction in crime.
Compared to 2022, where 3,094 suspects were arrested for kidnapping, murder, robbery, terror banditry, pipeline vandals and cultism, this year 2023, police arrested four hundred and thirty-one (431) suspects for rape and other sexual-related offences, seven hundred and twenty-four (724) suspects arrested for murder/homicide cases while two thousand, three hundred and forty-three (2,343) were apprehended for other criminal offences out of which four hundred and thirty – three (433) were suspected cultists. They also rescue a total number of one hundred and thirty - four (134) kidnap victims, arrest three hundred and seventy-five (375) suspected kidnappers as well as five hundred and seventy-eight (578) armed robbery suspects in various operations across the country. The Force was also able to recover four hundred and nineteen (419) firearms of various types and a total of four thousand, two hundred and thirty – five (4,235) different calibres of ammunition.
Aside from these figures, the Force recorded many breakthroughs in the investigation of some major criminal occurrences within the period. You will recall the deadly Otukpo bank robbery of 20th October 2023, during which the Divisional Police Officer, Otukpo Division, and many other innocent Nigerians lost their lives and huge sums of money carted away from three commercial banks. The unrelenting efforts of our men working with technically generated intelligence paid off as during an encounter with the daredevil robbers, five (5) of them were neutralized while four (4) were arrested and are currently in custody assisting police investigators. A total of nine (9) AK47 rifles and five thousand and thirteen (5,013) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from them.
Also, on the 14th and 15th December 2023, during a covert rescue operation carried out in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and Faskari Local Government Area of Kastina State respectively, twenty – three (23) kidnapped victims including kidnapped students of the Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, were rescued unhurt while two (2) notorious bandits, fell to the superior firepower of Police operatives after a fierce gun duel. Furthermore, unrelenting efforts by operatives of the FCT Command on the 4th and 5th December, 2023 led to the rescue of six (6) kidnapped victims in Guzape and Kwaku areas where three (3) notorious kidnappers terrorizing the area were overpowered during the operation.
Aside these figures, the Force recorded many breakthroughs in the investigation of some major criminal occurrences within the period. You will recall the deadly Otukpo bank robbery of 20th October, 2023, during which the Divisional Police Officer, Otukpo Division, many other innocent Nigerians lost their lives and huge sums of money carted away from three commercial banks. The unrelenting efforts of our men working with technically generated intelligence paid off as during an encounter with the daredevil robbers, five (5) of them were neutralized while four (4) were arrested and are currently in custody assisting police investigators. A total of nine (9) AK47 rifles and five thousand and thirteen (5,013) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from them.
Also, on the 14th and 15th December, 2023, during a covert rescue operation carried out in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and Faskari Local Government Area of Kastina State respectively, twenty – three (23) kidnapped victims including kidnapped students of the Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, were rescued unhurt while two (2) notorious bandits, fell to the superior firepower of Police operatives after a fierce gun duel. Furthermore, unrelenting efforts by operatives of the FCT Command on the 4th and 5th December, 2023 led to the rescue of six (6) kidnapped victims in Guzape and Kwaku areas where three (3) notorious kidnappers terrorizing the area were overpowered during the operation.
Recently the IGP visited communities of the tragic attacks that occurred in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State on December 24th, resulting in the loss of several lives, where he ordered the immediate deployment of a specialized team comprising operatives from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counterterrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces (SF), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and the Special Tactical Squad (STS). Their primary objective is to meticulously comb the affected areas, identify the culprits, and ensure swift justice is served to restore enduring peace.
With these achievements, the Police Force has increased the intensity of anti-crime patrols and employed other crime-fighting strategies to safeguard the different communities. They also deployed resources adequately and ensured strict supervision of their men in discharging their duties in a manner devoid of unprofessional conduct.
Olayemi Esan is writing from Abuja. She is the MD of Spye Communications Ltd SpyeTV. She can be reached via yemiesan04@gmail.com