Kayode Egbetokun, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, has acknowledged that criminals terrorising Nigerians across the country are ahead of security agencies in many ways.
Egbetokun said the criminals are no longer “ragtag” gangs, noting that they are well-funded, heavily armed, internationally connected, and equipped with advanced technology.
Speaking at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday during a meeting with commanders of border patrol units nationwide, the police chief urged officers to step up their operations.
“Let me say this to you: when you mount a checkpoint, when you block a smuggling route, when you rescue a victim—you are not just doing your job; you are shaping the future of Nigeria.”
He stressed that the nature of crime has changed drastically.
“But let us be clear: the threats we face are changing every day. Criminal groups are no longer ragtag gangs. They are sophisticated, they are well-funded, and they are international. They use drones, falsified documents, and encrypted networks to stay ahead.
“We cannot fight 21st-century crime with 20th-century tools. That is why we must embrace technology, surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, real-time data analysis. These are not luxuries; they are necessities.
“And we will continue to fight for them until every officer on the frontline is equipped to match the sophistication of those you face.”
The meeting later went into a closed-door session.
Egbetokun also highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerable borders, describing them as vast and complex, stretching over 4,000 kilometers of land boundaries and long maritime corridors linking the country to the Gulf of Guinea.
He explained that while borders represent channels of trade, culture, and human connection, they can also serve as entry points for threats.
“For too long, the porosity of our borders has been exploited. We have seen the inflow of small arms and light weapons that fuel violence in our villages and cities.
“We have seen contraband goods smuggled in, crippling our local industries. We have seen vulnerable women and children deceived and trafficked across borders.
“We have confronted terrorists and criminal syndicates who take advantage of these weaknesses to infiltrate and destabilize our communities.”