By Miriam Humbe
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan DISU on Wednesday, received a delegation of TAF Africa at the IGP’s Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The delegation was led by the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of TAF Africa, Dr Jake Epelle.
It included the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Mrs Brenda Anyanwu; the Executive Director, TAF Africa, Mr Mayowa Aderibigbe; the Chairman, Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), Mr Agaba Jacob; alongside other distinguished members of TAF Africa, the Nigeria Association of the Blind and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund.
Dr Epelle commended the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, describing his administration as one that has intentionally embraced inclusive policing in the exercise of its mandate to protect lives and property.
He further commended the IGP for the professionalism and effectiveness of personnel deployed during the recently concluded off-cycle elections across the country, particularly the Osun State election.
He appealed to the Inspector-General to advance a smart security architecture that is inclusive of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs), and sought his approval to organise and be present to declare open, the first Inclusive Security Summit, to be funded by the European Union.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NWTF called for a strategic collaboration with the Force Gender Unit to strengthen gender inclusivity within the Nigeria Police Force.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, Mr Agaba Jacob, further advocated for the greater involvement of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in policing, particularly in intelligence-related assignments, and called for enhanced protection of PWDs, who remain among the most vulnerable to crime, including sexual offenses.
The delegation further called for disability-focused policing and the development of structured frameworks for personnel engagement with the PWD community.
The Inspector-General of Police described the visit as an eye-opener and reiterated his commitment to training and retraining personnel on effective and dignified engagement with the PWD community, in line with the Force’s recognition of their vulnerability and rights under relevant national and international laws.
He further pledged the inclusion of PWDs in policing, particularly during the forthcoming general election, assuring that measures would be put in place to enable them exercise their franchise freely, without humiliation or intimidation.
The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to the protection of lives and property of all residents, without discrimination, through more inclusive and intentional policing.
