The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has announced the revival and retraining of the Police Mobile Force, popularly known as MOPOL, to strengthen the police response to kidnapping, banditry, insurgency and other high-risk criminal activities. Disu said at the weekend that the force, which had suffered years of neglect, was being re-equipped and repositioned for its core duties.
Speaking after touring police barracks in Lagos, Disu described MOPOL as the “fighting arm” of the police, saying its officers were specially trained for demanding assignments, including counter-insurgency operations. He said mobile policemen, particularly those in the Northeast, had returned to training after years of inadequate exposure, equipment and operational preparation.
The IGP said the morale of MOPOL personnel had improved under his administration, adding that retired members of the force had voluntarily returned to training camps to share their experience with younger officers. He expressed confidence that the renewed force would effectively complement military operations against banditry and insurgency, particularly as troops are currently deployed for internal security duties in more than 30 states.
Disu also linked Nigeria’s security challenges to porous borders, noting that armed groups exploit regional vulnerabilities to operate across West Africa. He supported calls by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, for stronger border controls, saying border fencing, aerial surveillance and technology-driven monitoring would improve the country’s security architecture.
The IGP disclosed that the police were developing a centralised biometric and criminal database following an upgrade of data-capturing devices, with police divisions nationwide directed to populate it. He said the database would be shared with other security agencies and could also support background checks by employers, while the police were working with telecommunications companies on intelligence sharing and enforcement against the continued use of pre-registered SIM cards by criminals.
On police welfare, Disu said plans were underway to provide barracks and affordable housing, while the government was being engaged on pension and salary reviews. He disclosed that a review of the police salary structure had been completed and was awaiting presidential approval, adding that efforts were also ongoing to provide uniforms and other essential equipment. He further warned against impunity, including misconduct by officers and unlawful acts by members of the public, and said the Complaint Response Unit had handled numerous reports of police misconduct.
Disu also condemned jungle justice and mob violence, describing them as murder because victims are denied due process. He warned that people involved in killings, including those who incite or record such attacks without intervening, would face murder charges. The IGP urged Nigerians to report crimes to security agencies, counsel young people against thuggery and support the electoral process, saying his broader goal was to build a police force that Nigerians could genuinely regard as their own.
