By Uloma Peace Okorie
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and human rights–compliant policing following a constructive engagement with civil society leaders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The delegation, led by prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, comprised representatives from key civil society and governance organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Yiaga Africa, Transparency International Nigeria, and Partners West Africa-Nigeria.
During the meeting, Falana commended the IGP’s vision of people-centered policing and called for sustained adherence to the Nigeria Police Act 2020, particularly provisions safeguarding suspects’ rights, family notification upon arrest, and the prohibition of arrests over civil disputes. He emphasized the importance of accountability mechanisms to deepen public trust in policing.
In his response, IGP Disu welcomed the collaboration and highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism within the Force. These include updated training manuals, improved officer welfare, enhanced oversight, and strict directives against interference in civil matters. He also pledged to reinforce the Complaint Response Unit and monitoring systems to ensure swift handling of public complaints.
The IGP expressed confidence that sustained partnership with civil society will promote responsible policing and protect citizens’ rights, reaffirming that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to accountability, transparency, and service-driven policing nationwide.