In response to the recent increase in criminal activities, particularly in Abuja and Kaduna, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered the posting of 54 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to head the Force Intelligence Departments at zonal and state command levels nationwide, News About Nigeria reports.
By taking this action, the Nigeria Police Force’s intelligence capabilities will be strengthened, and the intelligence department’s ability to combat crime will be improved.
The decision is in line with the Inspector General’s (IG) vision statement, which demonstrates the important function that intelligence plays in addressing the nation’s high crime rate.
According to data sourced from media reports and Beacon Consulting, over 69 victims lost their lives, and 152 were abducted during 194 attacks by bandits and other criminals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2022 alone.
The police leadership has taken important actions to strengthen the intelligence infrastructure in response to this concerning situation.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the posting in a statement on Tuesday, pointing out the IG’s commitment to improving the Force Intelligence Department at all levels.
He reiterated that the deployment of the 54 ACPs is part of the ongoing effort to improve intelligence capabilities within the police force.
Adejobi said, “It will be recalled that the IGP, on assumption of duty, reactivated the presidential approval to upgrade the Force Intelligence Bureau to the status of a department with the appointment of DIG Habu Sanni, as the DIG in charge of the new Department of Force Intelligence.
“The IG has, however, tasked the newly appointed senior officers to deploy all intelligence-based assets in combating crimes and criminality in their respective areas of responsibility.”
The IGP tasked the newly deployed senior officers to use intelligence-based resources to combat crime and criminality within their respective areas of responsibility.
Additionally, he emphasised the importance of professionalism and urged the officers to apply their wealth of experience to strengthening the existing intelligence architecture of the Force.
The posting of the 54 ACPs is effective immediately.
