Police Chief Seeks Improved Synergy With Navy, Army To Address Insecurity

Inspector-general of police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has solicited strong synergy with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army to train personnel and improve intelligence gathering and sharing to address security challenges.

He made the call yesterday during a visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

The police chief also visited the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja

The IG, in his remarks, admitted that the country is going through a difficult security challenge that requires all efforts to address.

“We do not have another country. The country is big. The battleground is vast. Difficult terrain for all of us. Large bodies of water surround the nation, including internal rivers and other rivers, inaccessible areas, and hills. We do not have any alternative but to cooperate with each other,” he said.

Disu said the Nigerian Navy has been of great assistance to the Police, especially to the Police Marine Branch. “We want better cooperation between the Nigerian Police and the Naval Police.”

He noted that investigating officers involved in criminal acts will be seamless if there is strong interagency collaboration.

He disclosed that the Police has increased the quota for Nigerian Navy officers on the advanced detective course.

He added that the Nigerian Police is revamping its intelligence-gathering capabilities and is ready to share them with other security agencies.

“Training has been going on in our ability to gather wonderful intelligence. And we want to let you know that we are ready to share intelligence with you.”

He said the Police under his watch would not deploy without intelligence. “Those eras are over. We are going to use intelligence policing.”

Disu revealed that the police were reforming their mobile unit to better operate with the military.

“We are working on our mobile police as well because we want to revamp the old ways of cooperation between us and the military.

“We want you to clear certain areas and hand them over to the military police. We are working towards it. Very soon, we will see a new mobile police force in the Nigerian police force.”

In his remarks, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, assured of his readiness to work together and carry out operations based on intelligence.

“We have to work together, and we have to carry out all our operations based on intelligence, and I think in my vision it is clearly captured. That is intelligence-based operations and synergy with other security agencies; no one agency can do it alone.”

He said the nation is at war, and every hand must be on deck. “We must cooperate so that in the shortest possible time we can all go back and rest.”

“I want to assure you that every cooperation and collaboration that you require, you get it from us. We have been doing that, and I’m happy you said you are increasing our quota.”

The Naval Chief asked the Police Chief to allow marine police officers for training under the Nigerian Navy

Vice Admiral Abbas said the Navy has established the Maritime Crime Investigation Desk to investigate maritime crimes in liaison with Interpol.

In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, stressed the need for a unified, coordinated approach among security agencies to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to deepening jointness in line with his command philosophy.

He noted that their professional relationship dates back to their joint service in the United Nations Mission in Darfur, reflecting a shared foundation of cooperation in complex operational environments.

The COAS also acknowledged the invaluable support of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in support of troops deployed in Kogi, Kwara and Niger States, where ongoing operations against banditry and kidnapping continue to yield favourable results.

He assured him of sustained Nigerian Army support to the Nigeria Police Force, reiterating that only through a unified and well-coordinated inter-agency framework can enduring peace and security be achieved nationwide.