The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has raised concerns over the growing sophistication of criminal networks, noting that gangs are increasingly leveraging technology to expand their illegal operations across the country.
Egbetokun sounded the alarm on Monday in Abuja during an executive capacity-building workshop for senior police officers, stressing that law enforcement must respond with greater foresight, creativity, and adaptability.
“We face adversaries who are not only persistent but adaptive. Criminal syndicates exploit technology to expand their reach. Terrorist networks rebrand and reorganise to avoid defeat,” the IGP stated.
He further observed that local conflicts are increasingly spilling across borders, accelerated by social media and transnational alliances.
“This complexity demands more from us than courage alone. It demands foresight, creativity, and the agility to lead in an environment of constant flux,” Egbetokun added.
The police chief’s warning comes amid a surge in attacks on security personnel. Recent reports indicate that at least 53 security operatives—including soldiers, police officers, NSCDC personnel, and members of vigilante groups—have been killed in the past two weeks.
In his opening remarks, the IGP emphasized that contemporary policing requires leaders who can “anticipate, adapt, and act decisively in an environment where hesitation is costly and speed is survival.”
Earlier, the President of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Nathaniel Awuapila, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting peace and security through research, advocacy, and professional capacity building.
The workshop, held at the Nigerian Police Resource Centre, aimed to equip top police commanders with the strategic skills needed to counter evolving security threats in a rapidly changing operational landscape.
Leave a comment