Pat Stevens/
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has convened an emergency meeting of Nigeria’s top police leadership, using the fallout from the Effurun killing to unveil a new tactical unit designed to tackle violent crime through intelligence-led operations and strict adherence to human rights.
The high-level conference, held on Tuesday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, brought together the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police, alongside members of the press.
It was called amid mounting public concern over accountability within the Nigeria Police Force following the extra-judicial killing of a suspect, Mene Ogidi, in Delta State.
Addressing the gathering, the IGP described the Effurun incident as unlawful and a clear violation of policing standards, confirming that the officers involved had been dismissed and handed over for prosecution.
He stressed that the Force would enforce a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct, declaring that no officer operates above the law.
Against that backdrop, Disu announced the creation of the Violent Crime Response Unit, a restructured tactical formation positioned as a cornerstone of ongoing police reforms.
He made clear that the unit would depart from past patterns of reactive policing, instead operating strictly on intelligence-based deployment to prevent abuse and improve operational precision.
Crucially, the IGP underscored that the new unit would be governed by firm human rights principles, with specialised training, clearly defined rules of engagement and embedded accountability mechanisms.
Commissioners of Police across the states are to take direct responsibility for oversight, a move aimed at tightening command control and limiting operational excesses.
“The evolving security landscape demands a more responsive, accountable and intelligence-driven approach,” Disu said, signalling a shift towards data-informed interventions rather than indiscriminate force.
The emphasis on intelligence-led policing comes as the Force highlighted recent operational gains.
In April alone, coordinated operations led to the arrest of 28 suspected terrorists, 51 murder suspects, 62 armed robbery suspects, 85 kidnapping suspects and 54 suspected cultists.
Police also rescued 189 kidnapped victims, recovered 140 firearms and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and retrieved 37 stolen vehicles.
Beyond enforcement, the IGP directed Commissioners to deepen community policing by holding regular town hall meetings with traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders.
He also ordered that senior officers make their contact details readily available to community leaders to strengthen trust and communication.
The reforms, he added, would be reinforced by existing accountability channels such as the Police Complaints Response Unit, ensuring that citizens have accessible avenues to report misconduct.
The emergency conference signals a decisive attempt by the police leadership to restore public confidence, placing human rights compliance and intelligence-based intervention at the centre of its response to violent crime.
0Related posts:
Policing The Nigerian Federation: Integrating Community Policing In Nigerian Security Architecture
Internal Security Dynamics and the Imperative of a New Policing Thought in Nigeria
Solomon Arase and the Rebirth of Nigeria Police
New Police Coming
Lagos Police Kick-Off Community Policing …Set up Structures
The Groomed Commander: How Olatunji Disu Prepared Quietly for Nigeria’s Top Police Job