IGP Meets Border Commanders, Charge them to Prioritize Security, Defend Nigeria’s Sovereignty.

By Raymond Enoch.

In a decisive move to strengthen Nigeria’s frontline defence, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has issued a clarion call to Border Patrol Commanders nationwide, urging them to heighten their vigilance and embrace modern strategies in combating cross-border crimes.

Addressing commanders during a high-level conference at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the IGP underscored the critical role of the Border Patrol Unit in securing Nigeria’s vast and often porous frontiers, especially along the Gulf of Guinea corridor.

“You are the nation’s first line of defence,” the IGP stated emphatically. “You do not just protect lives and property—you defend the very identity of Nigeria.”

Recognizing the ever-evolving tactics of transnational criminal networks, Egbetokun stressed the urgent need for a shift from traditional policing methods to intelligence-led and technology-driven operations. “The Nigeria Police Force cannot tackle 21st-century crimes with 20th-century tools,” he said, advocating the use of surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and real-time data analysis in border enforcement.

Beyond technology, the IGP emphasized the importance of community trust, inter-agency synergy, and the welfare of officers, assuring the commanders that their sacrifices would not go unnoticed.

“Our mission is clear,” he declared. “Prevent bloodshed, secure our borders, and safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty.”

The conference signals a renewed offensive against external threats and a strategic push to modernize the nation’s border security architecture under the current police leadership.