IGP Disu Orders Police Crackdown on Bandits, Suspends Leave for 2027
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has cancelled leave for election security personnel and directed intensified operations against bandits across Nigeria.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has suspended leave for police officers assigned to election security duties ahead of the 2027 general elections while simultaneously launching a nationwide offensive against bandit networks. The directives were announced during a meeting with senior police managers at Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
As part of the strategy, Disu ordered the deployment of additional police personnel, vehicles, and aerial assets to communities currently facing bandit incursions. The police chief also instructed Commissioners of Police in affected states to submit comprehensive security assessments and operational needs within 72 hours, establishing a tight timeline for state-level responses to the security challenges.
The IGP reported that police forces have made significant progress in recent enforcement activities. In a single month, operatives arrested more than 611 suspected criminals across the federation.
The police also recorded recoveries of weapons and ammunition as well as the rescue of kidnap victims during these operations, though detailed breakdowns of these figures were referenced but not fully itemised in the directives. The combined approach reflects an effort to address banditry through both immediate tactical deployments and improved intelligence gathering.
The requirement for updated threat assessments from state commissioners suggests an emphasis on data-driven operational planning tailored to regional security dynamics. The suspension of leave for election-focused personnel indicates preparations for heightened security demands during the 2027 electoral cycle.
