By Oluwakemi Kindness
Inspector-General of Police, Olutunji Disu, has said security agencies deliberately resisted pressure to rush the rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State, insisting that patience, intelligence and coordinated planning were key to the successful operationI.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the IGP Conference and Retreat for Strategic Police Managers in Abuja, Disu said the decision to prioritise careful planning over hasty action ensured that all the victims were rescued safely.
“We are glad we took our time. We did not rush despite the pressure. We took the best decision, and today we are all happy about the outcome,” the Police chief said.
Disu credited the success to close collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, other security and intelligence agencies, as well as members of the public who provided credible and timely information.
He said the operation underscored the importance of intelligence-led policing, inter-agency cooperation and strategic planning, but cautioned that the achievement should not lead to complacency.
According to him, every successful operation should serve as motivation for security agencies to improve their effectiveness and strengthen future responses.
The Inspector-General urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies by reporting suspicious activities, describing community partnership as indispensable in the fight against crime.
He directed all Commissioners of Police and strategic commanders to ensure that deployments are guided by credible intelligence and proper threat assessments rather than routine operations.
Disu also instructed police commanders to develop security strategies tailored to the unique challenges in their respective states and to conduct post-operation reviews to improve future performance.
“A learning institution is a more effective institution,” he said.
Highlighting recent policing achievements, the IGP disclosed that nationwide anti-crime operations conducted since the last conference on June 9, 2026, resulted in the arrest of 1,198 suspects.
Those arrested include 141 suspected murderers, 117 armed robbery suspects, 161 suspected kidnappers, 104 suspected cultists and 169 persons linked to unlawful possession of firearms.
He added that police rescued 166 kidnapped victims, recovered 166 firearms, 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 47 stolen vehicles.
“Every statistic represents officers who put their lives on the line in service to the nation,” he said.
The Police boss further warned against corruption, extortion, abuse of authority, unlawful detention and other unethical conduct, stressing that public trust in the Force depends on the integrity and professionalism of its leadership.
He also directed Commissioners of Police to deepen community policing by strengthening engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, schools and community associations, describing such partnerships as essential for crime prevention.
Disu announced that all 37 Commissioners of Police will participate in a three-day leadership workshop from July 22 to 24 at the Nigeria Police School of Public Relations to enhance operational leadership, communication, emotional intelligence and strategic decision-making.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting lives and property, the IGP also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for police reforms, officers’ welfare, training and technology, urging senior officers to return to their commands with renewed dedication to building an intelligence-led, accountable and community-focused police service.
