The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of a new strategy aimed at strengthening security operations and tackling crimes committed across state borders.
The directive was announced during the monthly conference of strategic senior officers held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the new measures will take effect from June 15, 2026.
Under the arrangement, the deployed DIGs will provide strategic leadership and closer supervision of policing activities within their assigned zones. They are expected to work closely with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to improve operational coordination and enhance responses to emerging security threats.
In a further move to bolster crime-fighting efforts, the IGP unveiled a nationwide initiative known as “Handshake Patrols.”
The initiative requires neighbouring state police commands to conduct joint patrols, share intelligence and coordinate operations against criminal elements who exploit state boundaries to evade arrest and frustrate investigations.
Disu noted that many offenders often commit crimes in one state before fleeing to another, making stronger inter-state collaboration crucial to effective policing.
He directed Commissioners of Police across the country to maintain regular engagement with neighbouring commands, intensify patrols along major entry and exit routes, and adopt a regional approach in addressing security challenges.
The police chief stressed that improved cooperation among state commands would help close operational gaps frequently exploited by kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal groups.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to intelligence-led policing, strategic coordination and inter-agency collaboration in protecting lives and property across the country.
The latest directive comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in several parts of Nigeria, with authorities under increasing pressure to strengthen preventive measures and improve response times to emerging threats.
