By Ayomide Otitoju
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday convened a Strategic Police Officers’ Conference with senior commanders, including Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs), at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The meeting focused on performance review, strategic planning, and operational recalibration as the Nigeria Police Force enters the final quarter of 2025.
Egbetokun commended the improved command posture, tactical responses, and supervisory presence recorded since the July conference, saying the progress has boosted public confidence and operational outcomes. He, however, noted that the Force faces complex and evolving security threats, urging senior officers to embrace intelligence-driven strategies, strong coordination, and visible leadership to counter criminal networks.
Reviewing operations between July 31 and September 23, the IGP reported that police operatives arrested 4,383 suspects nationwide for serious offences. These included 481 armed robbery suspects, 260 kidnappers, 371 for murder or culpable homicide, 161 for unlawful possession of firearms, 322 suspected rapists, 375 cultists, and 2,413 others for various crimes.
In the same period, police recovered 716 firearms, 21,238 rounds of ammunition, and 212 vehicles, while rescuing 1,138 kidnapped victims across the country.
Looking ahead, Egbetokun directed zonal and state commands to strengthen visibility policing, expand community engagement, and intensify patrols of highways, feeder routes, and forest corridors, with special attention to the “Ember Months” traditionally linked to heightened criminal activity.
The conference ended with renewed commitment from senior officers to consolidate security gains, maintain robust presence across their jurisdictions, and sustain momentum in crime prevention and law enforcement into the year’s final quarter.
