Jane Salihu
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has intensified efforts to modernise policing in Nigeria with a renewed focus on data-driven investigations and the creation of a more robust national crime database system.
Speaking at a One-Day Crime and Incident Database Impact Sensitization Workshop held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the IGP underscored the critical role of accurate suspect data management in enhancing intelligence gathering, crime analysis, and evidence-based policing across the country.
The workshop, organised by the Nigeria Police Force Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), brought together investigators and heads of investigative units to deepen awareness of the Suspects’ Information Capturing Process under the Nigeria Police Force Crime and Incident Database (NPF-ICD) Centre Project.
According to the police chief, modern law enforcement agencies must increasingly rely on credible and actionable data to effectively combat crime, track criminal activities, and improve public safety.
He noted that the Crime and Incident Database Centre has the potential to transform criminal investigations by enabling law enforcement agencies to identify repeat offenders, detect emerging crime patterns, connect offences committed across different jurisdictions, and support informed operational decisions.
Disu stressed that the initiative is a key component of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening intelligence-led policing and improving the efficiency of criminal investigations nationwide.
He also called on police formations and commands across the country to ensure strict compliance with established procedures for capturing suspects’ information, describing accurate data collection as fundamental to building a reliable national crime management system.
The Inspector-General urged participants at the workshop to contribute practical ideas and recommendations that would enhance the effectiveness of the database project and improve collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies.
The Nigeria Police Force said the initiative aligns with its broader commitment to leveraging technology, innovation, and intelligence-driven strategies to improve service delivery, strengthen public confidence, and build a more professional and accountable policing institution.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by the Force leadership to deploy digital tools and modern policing techniques in addressing contemporary security challenges across Nigeria.
