The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Olatunji Disu, has ordered commissioners of police (CPs) to regularly hold town hall engagements nationwide to strengthen the community policing initiative in the country.

Mr Disu gave the order on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of an emergency conference with CPs in charge of state commands.

He noted that the Nigeria Police Force could not secure the country alone, as security was a collective enterprise.

He said that in view of this, the trust, cooperation, and active partnership of the Nigerian people were needed, adding that the force was committed to earning it.

The IG said the engagements must not be ceremonial, as CPs must sit with traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth organisations, women’s groups, and transport unions.

He said the engagement must entail listening, sharing information, and building genuine partnerships.

Mr Disu stated, “I am also taking a step that I believe will send a strong signal of openness and accessibility. I am directing all CPs to make their contact details available to community leaders within their states.

“When a community leader needs to reach their CP, that line must be open because that is what community policing looks like in practice.

“Security intelligence flows from communities; when citizens trust the police, they share what they know, and that information saves lives. I therefore urge all Nigerians to say something when they see something because we are listening and will act.”

Mr Disu also said the Nigeria Police Force had undertaken a comprehensive retraining and strategic repositioning of its personnel, with particular emphasis on human rights standards, lawful use of force, and professional conduct.

According to him, the process is ongoing and will not be stopped.

‘’The Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU) remains fully operational, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,’’ he said.

He noted that any citizen with a legitimate complaint about police conduct could reach the unit through the direct and accessible channel, adding that the contact details would be made available at the close of the conference.

He urged Nigerians to use the channel and encouraged newsmen to publicise it widely.

“I also wish to address the circulation on social media of videos depicting police misconduct. Some of these incidents occurred years ago, and the officers involved were sanctioned at the time.

“But I understand that perception matters. We are working actively, with urgency, to rebuild and sustain public trust. I ask Nigerians to judge us by our actions going forward,” he said.

Mr Disu further said that the Force, during several intelligence-led operations, arrested 229 suspects for suspected terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and other criminal offences in April.

The IG said 28 of the suspects were arrested for suspected terrorism, 51 for murder/culpable homicide, 62 for armed robbery, 85 for kidnapping, and 54 for cultism.

Mr Disu said 189 kidnap victims were rescued with 37 stolen vehicles recovered during the period under review.

He said 140 assorted firearms and 1,074 rounds of ammunition of various calibres were recovered during different operations within the period.

(NAN)