The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has given assurances to citizens that law enforcement officers will operate with professionalism before, during, and after the 2027 general elections to build public trust and bring pride to the force.
Disu gave the assurance after a conference with commissioners of police and other senior officers, where experiences from recent elections were reviewed to strengthen the force’s preparedness for the forthcoming polls.
Speaking with journalists at the launch of The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force, authored by 96-year-old retired Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Dame Stella Okuyiga, the IGP pledged that the police would uphold professionalism in the discharge of their electoral duties.
“I give you my word. The Nigeria Police will do so well, and we will make the Nigeria Police proud, and we will make Nigerians proud,” he said.
Disu explained that the force had drawn lessons from two or three recent elections, identifying areas of strength and shortcomings to improve its performance in 2027.
“We have had two or three elections recently, and you can see that the police came out very well. We did so well.
“We have now brought all these experiences together, where we did well and where we did not do well, so that we can perform better in this big election that everybody is looking up to,” he said.
On the book, the IGP described its publication as an important contribution to preserving the institutional history of the force, noting that Okuyiga was among the pioneer female police officers who joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1955.
He said the author had documented valuable experiences and institutional knowledge that would guide generations of female police officers.
“Mama is 96 years old, and she has taken her time to put all her experience and institutional knowledge down in the book for us to study, so that generations of women police officers coming after her will have something to look up to,” Disu said.
He added that the police would ensure the book was available in all police training institutions to enable officers to learn about the force’s history.
“We in the police are starting up the history of not leaving our own, not forgetting our own,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Okuyiga expressed delight that the publication would preserve her legacy and allow her experiences to inspire readers long after her lifetime.
“This book launch today is an important day in my life. The book itself is there, but I still live on because this book will be in libraries all over the world, and people will be reading it.
“So, I am happy that, with all that is happening today, I will continue to live forever,” she said.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, launched the book with a donation of N20 million.
What You Should Know
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has announced that the force is reviewing past elections to improve security and professional conduct ahead of the 2027 polls. This commitment comes alongside the launch of a historical book documenting the journey of pioneer female police officers.
- Positive Impact: Enhanced police preparedness and professional conduct can lead to safer elections, reduced electoral violence, and greater public trust in security agencies.
- Potential Concerns: Past electoral challenges mean the police force will face intense pressure and scrutiny to deliver on these security and neutrality promises.
