The Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunj Rilwan Disu, has ordered Commissioners of Police to conduct an immediate nationwide audit of arms and ammunition in custody.
Disu gave the directive on Tuesday during a strategic meeting with senior officers from the rank of Commissioners and above.
He directed the Commissioners of Police to conduct a comprehensive, transparent and properly documented stocktaking exercise, and submit the report to the force headquarters.
He said the move was to strengthen accountability and prevent misuse of operational assets.
“I hereby direct all Commissioners of Police to immediately undertake a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition within their respective Commands. This exercise must be thorough, transparent, and properly documented, with detailed reports forwarded to the Force Headquarters within the stipulated time frame.
His words: “The objective is clear: to strengthen accountability, identify existing gaps, and provide an accurate assessment of our operational needs. Let me emphasize that this is not a routine administrative task, but a critical measure to enhance our readiness, prevent misuse, and ensure that all assets entrusted to the Force are properly accounted for and optimally deployed.”
Speaking on the recent extra-judicial killing which occurred in Delta State, the IGP described the incident as unlawful and a violation of professional standards which would no longer be tolerated under his leadership.
According to him, “that act was wrong. It was unlawful. It violated the sanctity of human life and the professional standards of this Force,
He disclosed that the officer involved and members of his team had been dismissed, while the case file had been forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for criminal prosecution.
“This matter will not be swept aside. Accountability will be pursued to its full and logical conclusion,” he stated.
The IGP also directed Commissioners of Police to convene regular town hall meetings with key stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth and women groups, and transport unions.
According to him, “these are not ceremonial events. Commissioners must sit with traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth organizations, listening, sharing women’s groups, and transport unions information, and building genuine partnerships.”
As part of efforts to boost accessibility, the IGP ordered that Commissioners make their contact details available to community leaders within their states.
According to him, “when a community leader needs to reach their Commissioner of Police, that line must be open. That is what community policing looks like in practice.”
While urging citizens to volunteer information to security agencies, he said, “if you see something, say something. We are listening, and we will act.”
Disu also announced the restructuring of the police anti-crime architecture with the creation of a new formation, the Violent Crime Response Unit to replace the Special Weapons and Tactics units.
According to the IG, the VCRU represents a fundamental shift in tackling serious crimes, with officers undergoing specialised training in tactical operations, human rights compliance, intelligence analysis, and rules of engagement.
According to him, this is not a rebranding exercise. The VCRU represents a fundamental shift in how we approach serious crime in Nigeria.
He explained that officers assigned to the unit have undergone specialised training in tactical operations, human rights compliance and intelligence analysis.
The IGP further revealed that the unit would operate strictly on credible intelligence and be subject to civilian oversight and structured review mechanisms.
Each Commissioner of Police, he said, would be directly responsible for the conduct and performance of the VCRU in their respective states.
The IGP also directed Commissioners to intensify community policing efforts through regular town hall engagements with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and market associations.
He ordered that Commissioners make their contact details available to community leaders to enhance accessibility and trust.
According to him security is a collective enterprise.
He said when citizens trusted the police, they shared information—and that information saved lives.
Disu disclosed that the Force had embarked on comprehensive retraining of personnel, with emphasis on human rights, lawful use of force and professional conduct.
He reiterated that the Police Complaints Response Unit, CRU, remained operational 24/7, encouraging citizens to report misconduct.
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