Jane Salihu
The Nigeria Police Force has commenced the training of 10,000 officers in election security management ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that personnel who compromise their neutrality during the electoral process will be held accountable.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, gave the warning on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the opening of a five-day training programme organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Disu charged officers to demonstrate professionalism, impartiality and accountability in the discharge of their election duties, stressing that the credibility of the electoral process depends partly on the ability of security personnel to protect voters, electoral officials and election materials without political interference.
He directed police commands to strengthen intelligence gathering, operational planning and collaboration with other security agencies, particularly in areas affected by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence.
The IGP also warned against electoral offences, including political violence, voter intimidation, ballot-box snatching and vote-buying, noting that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
As part of measures to promote accountability, Disu announced plans to establish a dedicated 24-hour complaints line through which members of the public could report misconduct by officers deployed for election duties.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns, while calling on the media and civil society organisations to verify information before disseminating it to prevent the spread of misinformation capable of undermining electoral peace.
The five-day training programme focuses on election security management, crowd control, conflict prevention, rules of engagement, human rights, intelligence gathering and lawful responses to election-related incidents.
The first phase covers officers from 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the programme designed to establish uniform operational standards ahead of nationwide deployment.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu, said the Fund remained committed to strengthening police preparedness through training, operational equipment and mobility support.
He said the initiative was intended to produce disciplined, impartial and responsive officers capable of managing election-related security challenges professionally.
The event was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, alongside members of the Police Force Management Team and other senior officers.
The Nigeria Police Force said it would sustain training, intelligence-led planning and inter-agency collaboration to provide a safe environment for Nigerians to exercise their electoral rights during the 2027 general elections
