The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to their respective geopolitical zones as part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness and improve security coordination across the country.
The deployment, which takes effect from June 15, 2026, was announced during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anthony Okon Placid, the move is aimed at bringing strategic leadership closer to the field, enhancing accountability, and ensuring a faster response to emerging security threats.
Under the new arrangement, the DIGs will work closely with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police to improve operational oversight and ensure effective implementation of policing directives across the various zones.
In a related development, the IGP directed all Commissioners of Police nationwide to immediately establish coordinated inter-state security operations, codenamed “Handshake Patrols,” with neighbouring state commands.
The initiative is designed to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve communication among police commands, and facilitate joint operations against criminal activities that transcend state boundaries.
Speaking on the rationale behind the directive, the IGP noted that criminal elements often exploit jurisdictional gaps by committing offences in one state and fleeing to another to evade arrest.
He therefore tasked Commissioners of Police to maintain regular engagement with neighbouring commands, conduct coordinated patrols along major entry and exit routes, and adopt a regional approach to tackling security challenges.
The police chief emphasized that enhanced collaboration among state commands would significantly improve the force’s capacity to prevent and respond to crime, particularly in areas affected by cross-border criminal activities.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led policing, strategic coordination, and inter-agency collaboration aimed at safeguarding lives and property while enhancing public safety nationwide.
