The Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has unveiled a six point security roadmap for the 2027 general elections, with emphasis on intelligence gathering, specialised training, inter agency coordination, rapid communication, community partnership and strict political neutrality.
Disu unveiled the framework on Monday in Owerri, Imo State, at the opening of the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO, organised around the theme, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”
Under the roadmap, the IGP directed police commands to begin early mapping of electoral flashpoints and criminal networks while ensuring that credible intelligence gets to commanders in time for preventive action.
He said the protection of vulnerable voters must remain central to election security, stressing that women, elderly persons and persons living with disabilities must be able to access polling units without fear. He noted that an election could not be considered secure where citizens were unable to vote safely.
Disu also ordered comprehensive training for personnel on crowd management, protection of electoral materials and officials, as well as human rights compliant policing. He called for joint exercises with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other security agencies to establish clear command and response structures before election related incidents occur.
The IGP identified disinformation as another emerging threat, directing the Force to monitor fake election results, forged police statements and inflammatory videos capable of triggering violence. He said persons who use online platforms to incite violence would face investigation and prosecution in line with the law.
Reflecting on the recent Osun State governorship election, which he described as largely peaceful despite isolated cases of voter intimidation and inducement, Disu directed the Force to review its intelligence gathering, response time and training gaps as part of preparations for 2027.
He warned police officers against partisan conduct, harassment of voters or collaboration with political actors, directing that any personnel found compromising the Force’s neutrality would be investigated and sanctioned. He also ordered Commissioners of Police to make official contact numbers available to the public for faster communication.
Disu tasked participants at CARSPO 2026 with producing a practical framework covering training, deployment and command structures, insisting that the outcome must translate into operational action. He set October 12 as the deadline for completing the roadmap and establishing the election security taskforce.
The IGP, who urged officers to remain “Neutral. Prepared. Present. Accountable,” also presented an eight month operational scorecard of the Nigeria Police Force. Since assuming office in February, he said the Force had arrested 1,643 suspects and rescued 1,066 kidnapped victims.
According to him, those arrested included 251 suspected terrorists and bandits, 343 murder suspects, 566 suspected armed robbers and 483 suspected cultists. Police operations during the period also led to the recovery of 947 firearms and more than 22,000 rounds of ammunition.
Disu, however, acknowledged that operational statistics could not erase the pain caused by kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and communal violence. He paid tribute to officers killed in the line of duty and pledged continued attention to the welfare of serving personnel and families of fallen officers.
The opening ceremony at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, Owerri, attracted senior government officials, security and military chiefs, including representatives of President Bola Tinubu and the Senate President, as well as Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and other stakeholders. CARSPO 2026 runs from September 21 to 23 and is being held in collaboration with Lenders Consult International.