The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general elections will be conducted in a safe and secure environment despite the country’s worsening security challenges.
Disu, who spoke in an interview with AFP, said the Nigeria Police Force was already preparing officers for the elections and working with other security agencies to ensure voters can exercise their rights without fear.
“We will have safe and secure voting in the country,” the police chief said.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek re-election in 2027, with previous election cycles in Nigeria often marred by political violence, intimidation and ethnic clashes.
Disu said police officers were undergoing training to strengthen their capacity ahead of the polls and promised that voters in areas affected by insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would also be able to participate.
“Definitely people will be able to vote,” he said when asked about elections in violence-hit parts of northern Nigeria.
He acknowledged that some Nigerians were already concerned about travelling to their home communities, where they are registered to vote, because of insecurity.
According to Disu, the police are working with the military and other security agencies to restore peace across the country ahead of the elections.
Police Reform and State Police
Disu also expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, saying the Nigeria Police Force had contributed to developing the framework for the reform.
The proposal, which would require a constitutional amendment, seeks to allow Nigeria’s 36 states to operate their own police forces while retaining the federal police.
Supporters argue that state police would improve security response by creating forces with better knowledge of local communities and terrain. Critics, however, fear state governors could abuse the system to target political opponents and suppress dissent.
Disu said safeguards would be introduced to ensure accountability, adding that the federal police would retain oversight while national standards would be maintained for training.
Police to Increase Personnel, Expand Technology
The police chief said the force currently has just under 300,000 officers and is working towards increasing the figure to about 350,000, following a presidential directive.
He said recruitment had not been conducted regularly under previous administrations but would now be strengthened to address personnel shortages.
Disu also highlighted efforts to improve the use of technology in policing. He disclosed that 25 officers are currently undergoing specialised training as part of a police drone team, while artificial intelligence is being used to analyse data and identify patterns linked to crimes such as banditry, insurgency and robbery.
Despite the reforms, the police continue to face widespread criticism over corruption, inadequate resources and public distrust.
Disu defended the force’s performance, saying officers were working under difficult conditions and suffering casualties while confronting the country’s security challenges.
“We are losing officers daily,” he said.
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