IG Orders Strategic Deployment Of 54 ACPs to Tackle Rising Crime

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun has directed the posting of 54 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to lead the Force Intelligence Departments at zonal and state command levels nationwide following the escalating incidents of kidnapping.

The posting comes in the wake of the IGP’s initiative to elevate the Force Intelligence Bureau to department status, appointing DIG Habu Sanni to lead the newly established Department of Force Intelligence.

The decision follows alarming statistics, with over 69 fatalities and 152 abductions reported during 194 attacks by bandits in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2022 according to data from media sources and Beacon Consulting, a leading indigenous intelligence outfit.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the move on Tuesday, emphasizing its alignment with the IGP’s commitment to strengthening the intelligence department as a crucial measure against the surge in crime.

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.

“He has further charged them to entrench professionalism and apply their wealth of experience in the course of discharging their duties towards strengthening the already existing intelligence architecture of the Force. The posting is with immediate effect.”

The officers are urged to employ their experience to fortify the existing intelligence structure and enhance professionalism as the directive is effective immediately.