By Jane Salihu
The Nigeria Police Force has moved from discussing the security challenges surrounding the 2027 general elections to demanding concrete operational changes from its commanders, following the conclusion of the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026, in Owerri, Imo State.
The three-day retreat, which ended on Wednesday, September 23, produced a Nigeria Police Election Security Roadmap built around intelligence-led policing, political neutrality, professionalism, technology, community partnership, accountability and collaboration with other security agencies.
But the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, made it clear at the closing ceremony that the real test of the Owerri conference would not be the resolutions reached or presentations delivered, but whether those decisions would produce measurable changes in policing across the country.
Disu therefore directed senior officers to return to their respective Commands and Formations and translate the lessons and resolutions of the retreat into practical action.
“The true measure of this conference is not the quality of discussions held here, but the changes we record across our Commands and Formations when you return to your respective areas of responsibility,” the IGP said, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu.
He directed participants to adopt a train-the-trainers approach, ensuring that knowledge gained at the retreat is cascaded to Deputy Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, tactical commanders and other personnel under their supervision.
The IGP also tasked Police Commands with strengthening operational planning, intelligence gathering, personnel training and community engagement as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
A major issue running through the conference was the need for the Police to remain politically neutral. Disu reiterated that the loyalty of the Force is to the Constitution, the law and the Nigerian people, rather than any political party, candidate or interest group.
The retreat also broadened the conversation on election security beyond conventional deployment of police personnel, with participants examining the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital technologies in crime prevention, investigations and election security management.
The Police also identified early-warning mechanisms, operational coordination, personnel preparedness and rapid response to election-related threats as important elements of the emerging security framework.
The focus on technology was complemented by discussions on police-media relations and communication, reflecting the importance of timely and accurate information in managing public confidence and responding to security incidents during elections.
The Owerri retreat brought together senior police officers, security experts, government representatives and other stakeholders under the theme, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.” The Police had earlier said the exercise was designed to develop practical measures for protecting voters, electoral personnel, candidates, election materials and the general public before, during and after the polls.
With the conference now concluded, attention shifts from the conference hall to the various Police Commands, where the resolutions are expected to be incorporated into operational planning and personnel preparation for the 2027 electoral cycle.
For the Police leadership, therefore, the Owerri retreat represents not an endpoint but the beginning of an implementation phase in which the Force’s preparedness, neutrality, intelligence capacity and engagement with communities will be put into practice.
