By Rapheal

Copyright thesun

As Nigeria clocks 65 years of independence, we are reminded that sovereignty is sustained not only by democracy but by security—the confidence of a people to live free from fear. In this journey of nationhood, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has stood as the foremost guarantor of internal order, the institution whose resilience sustains both statehood and stability. Today, under the leadership of the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, the Force has become a renewed symbol of courage, reform, and innovation. It has matched the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda with results that touch every community in Nigeria and resonate even at the international stage. This anniversary is not just a celebration of history, but a testimony that Nigeria’s security architecture, anchored by the NPF under IGP Egbetokun, is ready for the future. These few samplers will suffice:

A paradigm shift in policing

Nigeria is witnessing a radical transformation in the philosophy and practice of policing. The NPF has shifted from a reactive model—responding after crime occurs—to a forward-looking system built on anticipation, prevention, and people-centred service. This paradigm shift has been most visible in communities across all 36 states and the FCT, where improved patrol presence, community dialogue, and quick response mechanisms have restored confidence in the police. International observers, too, now point to Nigeria as an example of how large police institutions in developing democracies can reinvent themselves through strategic vision and leadership. Nigeria is no longer policing yesterday’s problems; it is anticipating tomorrow’s threats and meeting them with vision.

Taming the crime tide: Operational triumphs

The Nigeria Police under IGP Egbetokun has demonstrated a heightened operational tempo and doggedness, resulting in significant successes against criminal elements. In just two months, 4,383 suspects were arrested nationwide—ranging from armed robbery (481), kidnapping (260), homicide (371), and rape (322) to cultism (375) and unlawful possession of firearms (161). Beyond these arrests, 1,138 kidnapped victims were rescued and reunited with their families, while the seizure of 716 firearms, over 21,000 rounds of ammunition, and 212 stolen vehicles disrupted criminal logistics chains across multiple states.

These celebrated stories echo in Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger, where victims rescued from the clutches of kidnappers became living testimonies of renewed policing efficiency. In Lagos and Rivers, decisive crackdowns on cult gangs restored normalcy to once-troubled communities. In the North East, police tactical units worked hand-in-hand with the military to degrade terror networks, while in the South West, coordinated intelligence operations dismantled cross-border robbery syndicates. Collectively, these victories show that the NPF is not only responding to crime but tilting the balance in favour of the law. Every arrest, every rescue, every recovered weapon is not just a statistic — it is a statement that the law will always be stronger than lawlessness.

Specialised policing: Precision in action

Specialisation has become the new hallmark of policing in Nigeria. Recognising that modern threats requires tailored solutions, IGP Egbetokun created units that combine speed with precision. These units are:

Special Intervention Squad (SIS): The NPF stood up the SIS to tackle high-risk threats with speed and accuracy. The FCT, Abuja, component was launched in early 2024 and backed by capability support from partners. Since then, SIS has been deployed to deter complex, organised threats in major urban centres.

Safe School Protection Squad (SPS): To protect learning spaces, the SPS has been launched by state commands and zonal formations in Lagos, Benue, Delta, Osun, Bauchi, Nasarawa, among others. This specialised unit focuses on securing educational facilities, protecting students and teachers, and responding swiftly to threats against learning environments. Its creation aligns with Nigeria’s National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, supported by development partners such as UNICEF, which has consistently advocated for minimum safety standards in schools. By tailoring force to threat, the NPF is proving that precision, not size alone, defines modern policing power.

Harnessing technology and intelligence

Digital transformation now drives frontline policing in Nigeria. The Rescue Me emergency app and the Quick Emergency Reporting & Response System (QERRS) extend citizen access to help, while POSSAP simplifies specialised police services and reduces middle-man friction, closing loopholes for corruption. The electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) has scaled stolen-vehicle recovery—1,519 vehicles in 2024 alone, with recoveries continuing in 2025.

The NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has emerged as a continental leader. In one year, it recovered ₦8.82 billion, $84,000, and over 115,000 USDT for victims of cyber fraud. Beyond restitution, the Centre’s recognition as the Best Cybercrime Unit in Africa at INTERPOL 2024 put Nigeria on the global policing map. Locally, countless young Nigerians saved from online scams are a daily reminder that the fight against cybercrime is real, effective, and people-centred. Technology is no longer a support tool; it is now the heartbeat of policing in Nigeria, placing the Force shoulder-to-shoulder with global best practice.

Expanding manpower, building tactical strength

The Federal Government’s approval for the annual recruitment of 30,000 constables for five years is a milestone unmatched in Nigerian policing history. This is a forward-looking reform targeted at aligning Nigeria with the global policing ratio of one officer per 400 citizens, thereby strengthening visibility and public confidence. With this policy, communities across Nigeria—from Enugu to Sokoto, from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt—are seeing new police faces, increasing visibility, and reinforcing trust.

Simultaneously, raising PMF squadrons to 80 has created a more muscular tactical arm. This is a landmark decision to move toward the international policing benchmark of one officer per 400 citizens, enhancing presence, deterrence, and community trust. In the fight against insurgency in the North East, against banditry in the North West, and in quelling violent protests in urban centres, the PMF remains the punching arm of the NPF—disciplined, mobile, and responsive.

This bold expansion shows that Nigeria is not only filling numbers but shaping a stronger, faster, and more confident police presence nationwide.

Enhancing professionalism: Law, intelligence, and investigation

Under IGP Egbetokun, professionalism has accelerated. For the first time, the NPF’s Legal Department has become a full Directorate, supported by a pipeline of 100 Police Academy graduates admitted into the Nigerian Law School, with dozens called to the Bar to elevate investigative and prosecutorial quality within the Force.

The Force Intelligence Department (FID) was formally elevated to a DIG-led Directorate, with state and zonal FID offices realigned for tighter coordination and accountability. The Force Intelligence Department is strategically designed to provide timely, reliable, and actionable intelligence to support policing operations nationwide.

(To be continued)

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Tips on how to prevent suicide:

There is increasing number of suicide cases in the country, steamed largely from economic hardship, rising cost of living and challenging times. If you are sucidal- harbouring suicidal thoughts and ideas, you are advised not to bottle them up.Open up and discuss your frustrations and problems with close friends, relations, colleagues or religious leaders. Consider adopting the following measures too:

* Do not stay alone at home.

*Remember that God is against such behaviour as suicide, taking one’s life, life that you didn’t create.

* Avoid smoking , consuming alcoholic drinks and taking hard drugs, may further lead you into depression and heighten your suicidal thoughts

*Endevour to sing religious songs always to take your mind away from suicide. Remember that many others are passing through the same frustrating situation

* If you buy a drug without NAFDAC registration number or you notice any discrepancy, such drug could be fake, dangerous and could alter your psych and mental well being if consumed. If you see or purchase such drug, please urgently contact NAFDAC.