By Miriam Humbe
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Friday, received a distinguished delegation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Force Public Relations Officer disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
The delegation comprised prominent figures from the legal, human rights, governance, and security reform sectors. Notable members included Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Mr. Adesina Oke, Esq. of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL); Barr. Okeke Chinwike of the African Law Foundation (AFRILAW); Mr. Barbara S. Magaji of Amnesty International; Mr. Anietie Ewang of Human Rights Watch (HRW); Mr. Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa; Mr. Bathsheba Taglia of CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria; Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of Partners West Africa-Nigeria (PWAN); and Dr. Itia Otabor of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD).
Femi Falana SAN congratulated IGP Disu on his appointment and commended his vision of policing as a mission rooted in the protection of human rights.
He urged strict compliance with the Nigeria Police Act 2020, particularly provisions on family notification upon arrest, suspects’ rights to legal representation, and the prohibition of arrests for civil wrongs.
Falana further called for stronger accountability measures to ensure officers respect constitutional guarantees and are held liable in cases of misconduct.
Responding, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu expressed deep appreciation for the engagement of civil society and reaffirmed his commitment to people-centered policing.
He emphasized that effective policing must address both major crimes and the everyday concerns of citizens.
The IGP assured the delegation of ongoing reforms, including updated training manuals, improved officer welfare, and strict directives against interference in civil matters.
The IGP pledged transparency and accountability and committed to improving the Complaint Response Unit and Monitoring Unit.
The Inspector-General expressed confidence that effective policing is attainable and reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in prioritizing accountability, transparency, and the protection of human rights across all its operations.
