Odita Sunday 
IGP Disu Deploys DIGs to Geopolitical Zones, Launches Inter-State ‘Handshake Patrols’ to Boost Security
By Odita Sunday
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to their respective geopolitical zones as part of a nationwide strategy aimed at strengthening security coordination, operational effectiveness and field supervision across the country.
The deployment, which takes effect from June 15, 2026, was announced by the IGP during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to the IGP, the initiative is designed to bring strategic police leadership closer to operational theatres, improve accountability, and ensure faster responses to emerging security threats nationwide.
Under the new arrangement, the DIGs will work closely with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) within their zones to strengthen operational oversight and ensure effective implementation of policing directives.
In a related development, Disu directed all Commissioners of Police across the federation to immediately establish coordinated inter-state security operations tagged “Handshake Patrols” with neighbouring state commands.
The initiative, he explained, is intended to deepen intelligence sharing, improve operational communication and facilitate joint responses to crimes that transcend state boundaries.
According to the IGP, criminal elements often exploit jurisdictional gaps by perpetrating crimes in one state and fleeing to another to evade arrest.
He therefore charged Commissioners of Police to maintain constant engagement with their counterparts in neighbouring states, conduct coordinated patrols along major highways and border routes, and adopt a regional approach in tackling security challenges.
The police chief reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to intelligence-led policing, strategic coordination and inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting lives and property as well as enhancing public safety across the country.
The measures form part of ongoing reforms by the IGP to strengthen operational efficiency and improve security outcomes nationwide.
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