Video: Policemen dying daily over poor equipment, IGP says, as Defence insists soldiers need rest
Abdullateef Fowewe
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has highlighted the heavy toll insecurity is taking on officers, saying police personnel continue to operate despite inadequate equipment and daily fatalities.
Video: Policemen dying daily over poor equipment, IGP says, as Defence insists soldiers need rest
In a recent address, Disu stated, “Every day policemen are dying and then we do not have equipment to do this job, but we still come out to do this job every day.”
He added that new operational vehicles would improve performance and noted that, since assuming office, he has prioritised more vehicles and equipment.
He said he had calculated a need for about 774 vehicles and is receiving more than that number, which will be deployed to relevant areas.
The comments come as Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) called for greater empowerment of the police so the military can scale back internal security duties.
Musa said his personnel are exhausted from prolonged deployments.
“My men are tired. You will spend two years in one place, sometimes you don’t even see your family,” he remarked, adding that the armed forces are assisting the police to build capacity so troops can gradually return to the barracks and rest.
“We need to empower the police to do their job now.”
Nigeria’s security forces have for years borne a heavy load from banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The military has been extensively deployed for internal security operations that traditionally fall under the police, leading to overstretch.
Disu, who assumed office as Acting IGP in February 2026 following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun and has since taken full charge, has repeatedly emphasised officer welfare, equipment needs, accountability and community partnership.
Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff now serving as Defence Minister, has stressed inter-agency cooperation and the need to strengthen the police so the armed forces can focus more on their core external defence role.
