In a stern address to the Force, Inspector-General Olatunji Disu signaled a new dawn for Nigerian policing. Declaring an end to the days of impunity and misconduct, the IGP emphasized that professional excellence will now be the only acceptable benchmark for every officer.
IGP Disu delivered the charge in Uyo on Thursday during the passing-out ceremony for 1,068 retrained constables. The event, held at the Police Mobile Force (26 PMF) Base, served as a platform for the Inspector-General to emphasize a new era of accountability and discipline within the Force.
Addressing the graduates, the IGP characterized the retraining as a ‘new professional dawn’ rather than a mere formality. He issued a sobering reminder that a firearm in the hands of an untrained officer is a liability to society, whereas a disciplined officer is its greatest protector.
The IGP lauded the Akwa Ibom State Command for its leadership in retraining female officers in arms handling, affirming that gender is no barrier to tactical excellence. He further reinforced the mandate of Force Order 237, reminding officers that firearms must remain a last resort—used proportionately and strictly within the confines of the law.
Echoing his national broadcast from 29 April 2026, IGP Disu delivered a scathing ultimatum to the Force: “Impunity ends now. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Not transferred. Not queried. Not redeployed. No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice.
Drawing a hard line on misconduct, the IGP cautioned officers that corruption, substance abuse on duty, and firearm misuse will be met with immediate dismissal and legal action. He challenged the graduating class to carry their weapons with restraint and their uniforms with pride. His parting words served as a sobering call to duty: “The real examination begins tomorrow, when you return to the streets.”
Earlier in the ceremony, CP Baba Mohammed Azare noted that the retraining program specifically prepared a specialized team for the state’s new Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU). This unit aligns with IGP Olatunji Disu’s vision for a high-impact strike force capable of providing a swift, tactical response to emerging security threats in Akwa Ibom.”
CP Azare also spotlighted the Command’s recent operational milestones, notably the safe neutralization of explosives at the Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre and the successful rescue of kidnap victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways—achievements he credited to seamless inter-agency synergy.
The high-profile ceremony was attended by the representative of the Akwa Ibom State Governor; DIG Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi (Rtd); and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police AIG Auwal Musa Mohammad (Zone 6), AIG Alonyenu Francis Idu (PMF), and AIG Uche Ifeanyi Henry (Training & Development), alongside other top-tier dignitaries.
Reaffirming its dedication to community-led security, the Command urged Akwa Ibom residents to remain vital partners by sharing timely, credible intelligence.
Furthermore, the public was assured that all oversight channels are fully operational, with a guarantee that every report of officer misconduct will be rigorously investigated and prosecuted.
