The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has declared open the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026) in Owerri, Imo State, charging senior officers to remain neutral, prepared, present and accountable as the Nigeria Police Force prepares for the 2027 general elections. Disu, who spoke on Monday, 21 September 2026, said the safety of the elections would depend significantly on police professionalism and preparedness, stressing the need for early intelligence gathering, training, joint operations and effective coordination with relevant stakeholders.
The IGP disclosed that since assuming office in February 2026, police operations had resulted in the arrest of 251 terrorists and suspected bandits, 343 murder suspects, 566 armed robbery suspects and 483 suspected cultists, while 1,066 kidnapped victims were rescued and 947 firearms and more than 22,000 rounds of ammunition recovered. He, however, acknowledged that kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence remained major security challenges, stressing that the Police would continue tackling them while preparing simultaneously to secure the elections.
Disu outlined six priorities for election security: early intelligence and mapping of flashpoints; intensive training; joint operations with INEC and sister security agencies; faster communication and technology-driven situational awareness; stronger engagement with communities and stakeholders; and strict political neutrality. He warned politicians and their supporters against using thugs, vote-buying, arms movement or threats against voters and electoral officials, stressing that the Police would act against offenders regardless of status. He also directed Commissioners of Police to publish official contact numbers to improve public access and accountability.
The IGP stressed the importance of officers understanding the limits and responsibilities attached to their powers, warning that ignorance would not excuse misconduct. He reminded them that “every officer is the face of this Force,” adding that one courteous act can build public confidence while one act of abuse can destroy it. “In an age of cameras and mobile phones, do what is right whether or not anyone is filming,” he said, urging officers to uphold the law and maintain professional conduct at all times.
Disu further warned that officers who take sides, harass voters, collude with political actors or abuse their powers during the elections would be investigated and punished. He urged the CARSPO 2026 retreat to produce a practical roadmap for police training, deployment, command and conduct before, during and after the elections, reiterating the Force’s guiding principles: “Neutral. Prepared. Present. Accountable.”
NPF
