ABUJA, Nigeria – November 27, 2025 – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, has declared a decisive shift from reactive to proactive policing, announcing a sweeping set of new security measures in response to recent mass abductions in Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states.
The IGP made the declaration on Thursday during a Strategic Police Officers’ Conference, stating that the Force is “not retreating from this fight,” but “advancing into it.”
A Grim Reality and a Unified Response
IGP Egbetokun began his address by acknowledging the recent attacks, including the abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State and school girls in Kebbi State, calling them “grim reminders that a single breach anywhere is a disruption of peace everywhere.”
While highlighting successful rescue operations in Kwara and Kebbi through “swift, professional, and coordinated” joint operations with sister agencies, the IGP stated, “We have no excuses. We will not relent until all our vulnerable communities are protected.”
Four-Pillar Strategic Plan
To combat the rising threats, the IGP unveiled an enhanced policing strategy built on four key pillars:
1. Operationalising a Strong Native Intelligence Network: Commissioners of Police are directed to build intelligence networks within markets, transport unions, religious institutions, and farming clusters to “see crime before it erupts.”
2. Reinforcing Community Policing: Commands must establish Joint Community Safety Forums and Village-Level Rapid Information Channels to structurally bind the police to grassroots networks.
3. Massively Increasing Policing Visibility: A system of “structured dominance” through coordinated foot and vehicular patrols, mapped by crime data, will be implemented to ensure “citizens see us more often than they currently see criminals.”
4. Deepening Inter-Agency Partnerships: The IGP mandated monthly intelligence roundtables and joint tactical patrols with the military and other security agencies to close “inter-service loopholes” exploited by criminals.
Recall of VIP Personnel for Public Protection
In a significant policy shift, the IGP confirmed the Presidential directive to withdraw police personnel from VIP protection duties, describing it as a “strategic and deliberate realignment of our national policing priorities.”
He announced that 11,566 personnel have already been recalled and will be redeployed to “active policing duties,” including rural security, patrols, and tactical operations to protect vulnerable populations.
“The policy ensures that more officers are repositioned from personalised security duties to collective public protection responsibilities,” Egbetokun stated.
Festive Season Security and Operational Gains
With the festive season approaching, the IGP charged all Commands to activate “Festive Deployment and Visibility Plans,” including expanded highway patrols and the use of AI and drones to dominate major travel routes.
He also revealed impressive operational statistics since their last meeting, including the arrest of 8,202 suspects for offences like armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder. Additionally, 232 kidnap victims were rescued, and 249 firearms and 238 stolen vehicles were recovered.
The IGP concluded with a charge to his officers: “Nigeria depends on us and we will not fail her… return to your respective commands with renewed urgency, clarity of strategy, courage of command and determination of execution.”
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IGP Egbetokun Declares War on Kidnappers, Unveils New Security Measures After School Abductions
Recalls 11,566 VIP Police Personnel for Frontline Duties
