IGP Vows Secure 2027 Polls Despite Banditry, Insurgency
Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general elections will be safe and secure despite persistent insecurity, including jihadist insurgency, banditry and kidnapping across parts of the country. In an interview with AFP, Disu said the police were training officers to improve their preparations and deliver what he described as a secure election. With President Bola Tinubu expected to seek re-election in January, the IGP acknowledged the history of violence surrounding Nigerian elections, including the use of thugs by politicians to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent, as well as outbreaks of ethnic violence. Disu said voters in violence-affected northern communities would still be able to cast their ballots, while the police would work with other security agencies, including the military, to restore peace across the country. His assurance comes as violence has worsened since 2024, with banditry and jihadist attacks contributing to what the US-based conflict monitor ACLED describes as Nigeria’s most violent period in nearly three decades. The police, however, face major challenges involving the country’s population of roughly 240 million, limited resources, public trust and uneven deployment of personnel. The force has also faced longstanding criticism over brutality and corruption, while major protests erupted in 2020 over the activities of the SARS anti-robbery squad.
Disu also expressed support for the proposed creation of state police, which would require a constitutional amendment and form part of wider security reforms being pursued by President Tinubu’s government. He said the federal police would remain in place and retain oversight, while national standards would guide the training of state police personnel, with measures available to address misconduct. Supporters of state police argue that locally managed forces could respond more quickly to insecurity and better understand their areas, although critics fear governors could use them against political opponents. Disu said he was also working to expand the federal police, which currently has just under 300,000 officers, with a target of about 350,000 following a presidential directive and the resumption of regular recruitment. The police are further investing in technology, including a 25-member drone team undergoing specialised training, while artificial intelligence is being used to analyse data and identify patterns linked to banditry, insurgency and robbery. Despite his reform agenda, Disu acknowledged the distrust many Nigerians have towards the police but defended the force’s efforts, saying officers were frequently paying the ultimate price in the fight against insecurity. “We are losing officers daily,” he said.
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