Why IGP ordered ACPs to head intelligence departments at zonal, state command

Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the nationwide posting of Assistant Commissioners of Police to head intelligence departments at zonal and state police commands.

The postings aim to improve intelligence gathering and address rising crime rates, the police force announced on Tuesday.

Egbetokun made the postings to “upscale the intelligence department” and enhance its effectiveness per his vision statement, said police spokesperson ACP Muyiwa Adejobi.

“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 IGP 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,” Adejobi said.

Upon taking office, Egbetokun had upgraded the Force Intelligence Bureau to department status and appointed DIG Habu Sanni to lead it.

The newly appointed senior officers are tasked with using intelligence assets to combat crime in their areas.

Egbetokun also charged them to act professionally and apply their experience to strengthen existing intelligence capabilities. The police postings took immediate effect nationwide.