Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced a significant expansion of its internal accountability mechanism, declaring that the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU) is now fully operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and encouraging citizens to report any form of police misconduct, extortion, human rights violations, or other unprofessional conduct without fear of victimisation. The Inspector‑General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, made the announcement during an emergency conference with Commissioners of Police and members of the press held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
According to the IGP, the CRU has been strengthened to serve as a direct and accessible platform for members of the public to lodge complaints against police officers who engage in abuses of office, extortion, unlawful detention, or any form of unethical behaviour. Disu emphasized that accountability remains a core pillar of ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force, and that legitimate complaints from citizens will receive prompt attention and necessary action. “The Complaints Response Unit remains fully operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing members of the public with a direct platform to report cases of misconduct,” the IGP said.
The announcement comes at a time when public trust in the Nigeria Police Force remains critically low. Allegations of extortion, arbitrary arrests, and physical brutality are routine, and conviction rates for police officers accused of such offences are rare. The creation of a round‑the‑clock complaint unit is intended to signal a shift in policy, though sceptics point to previous reform initiatives that failed to produce lasting change. The CRU was originally established in 2015 as a pilot project and later expanded, but its operations have been hampered by lack of public awareness, understaffing, and at times, the reluctance of officers to investigate their colleagues.
The IGP addressed these concerns directly, noting that the CRU has been reinforced with additional personnel and technology to ensure that every complaint is logged, investigated, and resolved transparently. He also urged Nigerians to make use of the available complaint channels responsibly, stressing that public cooperation is essential to building a more professional, transparent, and people‑centred police institution. “Legitimate complaints from citizens will continue to receive prompt attention and necessary action,” Disu said, while also warning against frivolous or malicious reports aimed at harassing officers.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, amplified the IGP’s message in a press statement, assuring citizens that all reports received through the CRU are treated with seriousness and confidentiality. He added that appropriate disciplinary measures will continue to be taken against erring personnel found culpable after investigation. The statement also reassured the public that the Nigeria Police Force is determined to strengthen public confidence and institutional integrity through transparency, responsiveness, and respect for the rule of law.
The announcement has been met with cautious optimism by civil society groups. The Police Reform Monitoring Network welcomed the move but called for independent oversight to ensure that the CRU does not become another internal rubber‑stamp. “A 24/7 complaint unit is a good step, but the real test is whether complaints are actually acted upon. Nigerians have seen too many promises. We need data: how many complaints received, how many investigated, how many officers sanctioned,” said a spokesperson for the network.
The IGP also used the conference to address the growing concerns over unprofessional conduct by officers in the field, including incidents of bribery at checkpoints, extortion of motorists, and the use of excessive force. He warned that any officer found guilty of such conduct would be sanctioned, and that the days of impunity within the force were over. The conference, which brought together senior police officers from across the country, also discussed strategies for improving intelligence gathering, community policing, and crisis response.
While the expansion of the CRU is a positive development, its effectiveness will ultimately depend on whether citizens feel safe enough to report misconduct. Fear of reprisal remains a major barrier. The IGP acknowledged this and directed all commands to protect whistleblowers and witnesses. He also announced that the CRU would work with civil society organisations to conduct outreach campaigns, especially in rural areas where access to complaint channels is limited.
The Nigeria Police Force has made several reform promises in recent years, including the establishment of a forensic laboratory, the digitisation of criminal records, and the rollout of body cameras for officers. Some of these have been implemented; others remain works in progress. The 24/7 CRU is now operational, but its success will be measured not by the press release but by the number of guilty officers who finally face justice.
As DCP Placid stated in the final line of the press release, the Force is determined to strengthen public confidence through transparency, responsiveness, and respect for the rule of law. For millions of Nigerians, that confidence has been broken many times. The CRU is a thread. Whether it can stitch together a new relationship between the police and the people is the question that only time, and a few convictions, will answer.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments