IGP Launches ‘Operation Handshake Patrols’ Against Cross-Border Crime Nationwide
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has launched a nationwide security initiative known as Operation Handshake Patrols.
He has also directed Commissioners of Police across the country to commence coordinated inter-state patrols and intelligence-sharing operations aimed at combating cross-border crime and strengthening national security.
The directive was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Okon Placid, following the monthly conference of strategic senior officers held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the police, the operation is designed to improve cooperation among neighbouring state commands, enhance intelligence gathering, strengthen operational communication, and facilitate swift joint responses to criminal activities that transcend state boundaries.
The IGP noted that criminals often exploit jurisdictional gaps by committing offences in one state and fleeing to another, thereby complicating investigations and law enforcement efforts. To address this challenge, he ordered Commissioners of Police to maintain regular engagements with their counterparts in adjoining states, conduct coordinated patrols along major entry and exit routes, and adopt a regional approach to tackling security threats.
As part of broader measures to reinforce policing nationwide, Disu also approved the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to the country’s six geopolitical zones with effect from June 15, 2026.
The deployment, he said, is intended to bring strategic leadership closer to operational areas, improve supervision and accountability, and ensure a more effective response to emerging security challenges across the country.
The DIGs are expected to work closely with Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police within their zones to strengthen operational oversight and ensure the effective implementation of policing directives.
The police chief reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, strategic coordination and inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting lives and property and enhancing public safety nationwide.
