Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has given Nigerians a strong assurance ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that the polls will be safe and secure despite the country’s worsening challenges with banditry, insurgency and kidnapping. Disu’s assurance comes as Nigeria prepares for another major election in January, when President Bola Tinubu is expected to […]
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has given Nigerians a strong assurance ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that the polls will be safe and secure despite the country’s worsening challenges with banditry, insurgency and kidnapping.
Disu’s assurance comes as Nigeria prepares for another major election in January, when President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek a second term amid concerns over the ability of security agencies to protect voters in violence-prone communities.
Nigeria’s previous elections have frequently been affected by violence, political intimidation and the activities of thugs allegedly recruited by politicians to disrupt opponents and silence dissenting voices.
Speaking to AFP, Disu said the police were already taking steps to improve their readiness for the 2027 polls, including training officers to strengthen their ability to provide security during the election.
“We will have safe and secure voting in the country,” the IGP said, expressing confidence that the security agencies would be able to protect the electoral process.
The police chief was also questioned about voters in northern communities affected by years of jihadist insurgency, bandit attacks and kidnapping, where insecurity has made movement increasingly dangerous for residents.
Disu responded firmly that people living in those areas would not be excluded from the democratic process, saying, “Definitely people will be able to vote.”
The assurance comes despite reports that some Nigerians are already worried about travelling to their home communities where they are registered to vote because of fears over attacks and kidnapping.
Disu said the police were working alongside the military and other security agencies to restore peace across the country and ensure that citizens in different parts of Nigeria can exercise their voting rights without fear.
Nigeria’s security situation has nevertheless remained a major challenge, with conflict monitors reporting a significant rise in violence since 2024, driven largely by jihadist attacks and banditry.
On the proposed creation of state police, Disu said the Nigeria Police Force supports the reform being pushed by the Tinubu administration, which would require constitutional changes to establish police forces controlled at the state level.
The IGP said state police could make security responses more effective because local officers would be familiar with their communities and the terrain. He also disclosed that the federal police had contributed to developing the framework for the proposed system.
Concerns remain, however, that state governors could abuse state-controlled police forces against political opponents. Disu said the federal police would retain oversight mechanisms while training standards would be harmonised across the country.
The police chief further revealed that the force is working to increase its personnel from fewer than 300,000 officers to about 350,000, following a presidential directive aimed at strengthening policing capacity.
Technology is also becoming part of the police’s strategy, with Disu disclosing that 25 personnel are currently undergoing specialised drone training. The force is also using artificial intelligence to analyse security data and identify areas likely to experience banditry, insurgency and robbery.
While public confidence in the police remains a challenge because of allegations of corruption, inadequate resources and past abuses, Disu maintained that officers were doing their best to confront Nigeria’s security problems.
He pointed to the risks faced by police personnel, saying officers continue to lose their lives while carrying out their duties across the country.