Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has called for greater public cooperation in tackling insecurity after commending officers involved in the successful rescue of kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, saying community support remains vital to protecting lives and property across the country.
Speaking in Abuja during a reception for officers who took part in the rescue operation, Disu praised their courage and professionalism, paying special tribute to personnel who were wounded and to officer John Jerome Abena, who was killed during the mission.
He said the sacrifice of fallen officers must be recognised and remembered, stressing that those who lose their lives while protecting citizens deserve national honour.
“Police officers, first and foremost, are human beings. Police officers have emotions. Police officers feel it when a colleague dies,” Disu said. “I will continue to talk about it anytime we lose our men who died in active service protecting the people.”
The police chief said the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to supporting the families of officers who die in the line of duty and pledged greater public recognition of their service.
Disu also highlighted what he described as growing operational successes by security agencies across the country, citing the recent rescue of three kidnapping victims by police operatives in Kogi State as evidence of ongoing efforts to combat violent crime.
“A lot of operations are going on simultaneously everywhere in the country,” he said. “The thing is happening everywhere and daily police officers and other sister agencies are recording successes.”
He pledged to improve communication with the public by providing more frequent updates on security operations, arguing that transparency would help citizens better understand the risks faced by security personnel.
A key factor behind recent successes, Disu said, has been stronger cooperation among Nigeria’s security agencies. He described inter-agency coordination as essential in confronting criminal networks, kidnapping and insurgency.
“The synergy is top-notch. Everybody worked together, contributed men and put up their expertise,” he said. “We have made up our minds to work together, train together and fight this insurgency together.”
Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges in recent years, including kidnappings, armed attacks and insurgent violence in several regions. Authorities increasingly rely on intelligence-sharing and cooperation among security institutions to respond to evolving threats.
Disu urged citizens to play a more active role by sharing credible information with law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that security cannot be achieved by government institutions alone.
“Insecurity affects everybody. Security is everybody’s business,” he said. “If you see something, say something. Cooperate with the security agency. Give us information. Assist us to nip it in the bud, because the life you save may be your own.”
The appeal reflects a broader push by Nigerian authorities to strengthen community-based intelligence gathering as part of efforts to improve public safety and counter insecurity across Africa’s most populous nation.
