The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has called for greater investment in modern technology to secure Nigeria’s porous borders, warning that outdated tools cannot match the sophistication of contemporary criminal networks.
Speaking at the IGP Conference of Commanders of Border Patrol Units held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the police Chief said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) must embrace surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and real-time data analysis as necessities, not luxuries.
“Policing today can no longer afford to be reactive. Crime is faster, smarter, and more global than ever before. To win, we must anticipate, innovate, and outthink those who seek to harm us,” Egbetokun said.
The IGP likened Nigeria’s borders to the doors of a house, warning that when left weak, they expose the nation to external threats ranging from arms smuggling to terrorism and human trafficking.
“Our borders are Nigeria’s doors. If those doors are weak, every danger walks in freely. If they are strong, our children can sleep soundly. You, the border patrol officers, are the guardians of those doors, the sentinels who stand at the edges of our sovereignty,” he told the commanders.
Nigeria shares over 4,000 kilometers of land boundaries with neighboring countries and maritime corridors linking to the Gulf of Guinea. According to Egbetokun, these entry points are “arteries for trade and culture, but also cracks through which danger slips in.”
The police boss recalled how criminal syndicates exploit border weaknesses to smuggle small arms, contraband goods, narcotics, and even human beings. He cited a case where Nigerian security agencies intercepted a shipping container from Turkey carrying more than 800 rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
“That interception was not luck; it was intelligence, vigilance, and collaboration,” he said. “That is the standard we must uphold in all our border operations.”
Egbetokun stressed that border patrol officers carry an enormous responsibility beyond routine law enforcement. “When you stop a truck carrying hidden rifles, you prevent bloodshed. When you intercept traffickers, you restore dignity to a life. When you mount a checkpoint, you are shaping the future of Nigeria,” he declared.
The IGP emphasized the centrality of intelligence gathering, noting that numbers alone cannot secure Nigeria’s borders.
“A single phone call from a villager can prevent a massacre. A piece of digital evidence can expose an entire smuggling ring. Intelligence is everything,” he said, while urging officers to strengthen grassroots networks and trust-building with communities.
He also underscored the need for synergy among security agencies, pointing to recent joint patrols with Customs, Immigration, and the Armed Forces that led to major arms and narcotics seizures.
Egbetokun acknowledged the difficult conditions under which border patrol officers serve, including harsh terrains, poor mobility assets, and long nights away from their families.
“You are not forgotten. Your welfare is a priority. We are working with the Federal Government and partners to improve your tools, mobility, housing, and insurance. We cannot demand your best if we neglect your welfare,” he assured.
He also paid tribute to officers who had died in the line of duty, describing them as “fallen heroes whose courage inspires us and whose sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
In a stern directive, the IGP ordered all border patrol commanders to submit monthly reports of their achievements, including arms seizures, narcotics interceptions, trafficking disruptions, and intelligence breakthroughs.
“The absence of records will not be interpreted as peace or inactivity. It will be taken as failure of duty,” he warned.
Egbetokun concluded by urging the commanders to return to their posts with “renewed determination, courage, and innovation,” stressing that the safety of Nigeria and the stability of the wider world depend in no small measure on their vigilance.
“When Nigeria secures her borders, the ripple effect is felt across continents. The drugs we stop here never reach the streets of Europe. The arms we seize do not fuel terrorism in Africa. Let it be written that the Border Patrol Section of the Nigeria Police stood firm when Nigeria needed them most,” he said.
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