Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to their respective geopolitical zones effective Monday, June 15, 2026, as part of a strategic overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force's operational architecture. The IGP also ordered all Commissioners of Police nationwide to immediately establish coordinated inter-state security operations tagged "Handshake Patrols" with their counterparts in neighbouring states to address the growing challenge of cross-border criminality.
The dual measures were announced during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed the decisions in a press statement made available to newsmen.
The deployment of DIGs to the six geopolitical zones represents a significant structural shift in the command and control of police operations across Nigeria. The DIGs will be stationed in their designated zones, bringing strategic leadership closer to the field, strengthening accountability, and ensuring prompt response to emerging security threats. According to the police statement, the DIGs are expected to work closely with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police within their zones to enhance operational oversight and ensure the effective implementation of policing directives.
The IGP noted that the new arrangement is designed to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically delayed decision-making and resource allocation during security emergencies. By placing senior officers closer to the scenes of crimes, the Force hopes to improve coordination, intelligence sharing, and operational tempo. The DIGs will also serve as the primary liaison between the Force Headquarters and state commands within their zones, ensuring that national security directives are implemented uniformly and that local challenges are escalated promptly.
The second prong of the IGP's strategy is the introduction of "Handshake Patrols" across state boundaries. All Commissioners of Police have been directed to establish coordinated inter-state security operations with their counterparts in neighbouring states. The initiative is designed to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve operational communication, and facilitate joint responses to crimes that cut across state boundaries. The IGP observed that criminals often exploit jurisdictional gaps by committing offences in one state and escaping into another, a pattern that has been observed in kidnapping-for-ransom cases, armed robbery, cattle rustling, and vehicle theft.
Under the Handshake Patrol framework, Commissioners of Police are required to maintain regular engagement with neighbouring commands, conduct coordinated patrols along major entry and exit routes, and adopt a regional approach to addressing security challenges. The patrols are expected to cover highways, border communities, and other transit corridors that criminals frequently use to evade capture. The IGP charged the Commissioners to ensure that these patrols are not ceremonial but intelligence-driven, with a focus on intercepting criminals in transit and dismantling their logistical networks.
The timing of the directive is significant. Nigeria has witnessed a resurgence of banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence across several states, with criminal groups increasingly operating across state lines to frustrate security responses. In recent weeks, bandits have carried out attacks in Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger states, often crossing from one jurisdiction to another to avoid pursuit. The new measures are intended to close those gaps and force criminal elements to confront a unified police front.
Reactions from security analysts have been largely positive. Dr. Olamide Fashina, a security consultant based in Lagos, described the deployment of DIGs to zones as a "long-overdue reform" that would improve accountability and reduce the distance between policy and implementation. He noted that the previous centralized structure often left senior officers at the Force Headquarters disconnected from field realities, leading to delays and misalignment. "Bringing DIGs closer to the states they oversee will enable faster threat assessment and resource deployment," Fashina said.
On the Handshake Patrols, analysts noted that similar initiatives had been attempted in the past with varying degrees of success. However, they argued that the key to success lies in consistent communication, shared intelligence databases, and a willingness to cede some operational autonomy at the state command level. The Nigeria Police Force has not disclosed specific funding or equipment allocations for the patrols, but the IGP assured senior officers that logistical support would be provided.
The Inspector-General of Police, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police in Lagos and ex-Director of Operations at the Force Headquarters, has made intelligence-led policing a cornerstone of his tenure. Since assuming office in early 2026, he has launched several initiatives, including the Violent Crime Response Unit, which has recorded successes in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. The deployment of DIGs and the Handshake Patrols represent the next phase of his strategy to transform the police into a more agile and responsive institution.
The Nigeria Police Force has also faced criticism in recent months over its handling of mass abductions, including the Oriire school kidnapping in Oyo State, where over 40 pupils and teachers remain in captivity despite weeks of rescue operations. While the IGP has not directly linked the new measures to those incidents, observers view the timing as a direct response to public frustration over the police's perceived inability to protect rural communities and secure highways.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Placid, reiterated that the IGP has charged all Commissioners of Police to maintain regular engagement with neighbouring commands and to adopt a regional approach to addressing security challenges. The IGP has also ordered strict compliance with the new directives, warning that any officer found to be negligent or uncooperative would face disciplinary action.
As the June 15 effective date approaches, police commands across the country are expected to begin implementing the deployment orders and coordinating cross-border patrol schedules. For millions of Nigerians who have lost confidence in the ability of security forces to protect them from kidnappers and bandits, the new measures offer a glimmer of hope. Whether they will translate into tangible improvements in safety remains to be seen. But for the first time in years, the police have signalled that they are willing to change how they operate.
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