The Nigeria Police Force has launched a Special Enforcement Team to ensure compliance with the presidential directive banning police from providing VIP escort and guard duties. According to Punch, the operation began in Lagos on December 6, 2025, covering strategic locations including the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The Force PRO said early monitoring showed commendable compliance, with no arrests reported during the initial sweep. The police leadership reiterated that the policy is intended to redeploy personnel to core policing tasks for broader public safety. Source: Punch, December 6, 2025.
Tag: Inspector General of Police
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Tinted Glass Permits: Why Nigerians Shouldn’t Pay Twice for One Car
Policeman checking vehicle particulars of a vehicle For years, motorists in Nigeria have endured a frustrating ritual: registering their vehicles with the state licensing offices, only to be stopped on the highway by police officers demanding an additional permit for factory-fitted tinted glass. The irony is painful — every new vehicle, including those with tinted or shielded glass, is already captured in the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS), the centralized database managed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). So why are Nigerians being compelled to re-register with the police?
The answer lies not in necessity but in bureaucratic silos and institutional turf wars. By law, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) retains the authority to issue tinted glass permits under the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act of 1991. But in practice, FRSC already has the data. Every plate number, chassis number, and glass specification is captured the moment a car is registered. The logical solution would be for the police to access NVIS directly, extract a filtered report of all vehicles with factory-fitted shields, and enforce compliance seamlessly.
Instead, motorists are dragged through a second, often opaque process at police stations. This duplication breeds confusion, harassment, and informal revenue collection on the highways. Worse, it undermines public trust in law enforcement, turning a legitimate security concern into yet another avenue for extortion.
Yes, there are genuine worries. Aftermarket tinting is a security risk. Criminals exploit heavily darkened windows to evade detection. Police must have the authority to check and sanction illegal modifications. But this can be done through inspection points and digital cross-checks, not endless manual registrations.
Nigeria cannot claim to be pursuing digital transformation while its agencies cling to outdated silos. A simple reform could save time, money, and lives:
• Mandate FRSC to auto-flag tinted vehicles at registration.
• Provide NPF secure access to NVIS.
• Automate permit issuance electronically, with a transparent fee schedule.This way, motorists deal with one system, not two. Police officers enforce compliance using real-time data, not roadside guesswork. And the state builds trust by showing that regulation is about safety, not rent-seeking.
The time has come to end this double compliance burden. Nigerians deserve a system where technology replaces intimidation, and where institutions collaborate rather than compete. In an era of insecurity, the Police need the public’s confidence more than ever. Simplifying tinted glass permits would be a small but powerful step in that direction.
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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s South-West Demand Youth Empowerment After EndSARS
Stakeholders at South-west Peace Dialogue which took place in Lagos over the weekend have demanded for the repair of economic assets destroyed in the wake of the #EndSARSProtests that turned bloody in the region.
The stakeholders, including the South-west governors, traditional rulers, political leaders and leaders of thought, at the end of the meeting issued a 13-point communique, called for a comprehensive programme that would address youth employment and empowerment in the country.
The communique, signed on behalf of the participants by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said: “The security architecture of the country requires adjustment to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country. There should be more police presence in communities in the South-west states.
“A comprehensive programme that addresses youth employment and empowerment should be prioritised. Closer coordination and complementarity between the States and the Federal Government. Curricular of tertiary institutions should be reviewed, with emphasis placed on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
“We recognise the damaging and negative impact of fake and false news, and we worry about its destructive and dangerous potency. We call on Federal Government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news. The 2015 Cyber Act must also be fully used.”
The South-west leaders also demanded a review of reports of past constitutional conferences, including the 2014 National Conference and implement some of the recommendations, especially with reference to security, economy, equal treatment for citizens all over the country.
Lagos State Government hosted the dialogue, which was at the instance of all the six governors of the South-west states, to forge a common front with traditional institutions in addressing the issues that led to the recent nationwide youth demonstration, which ended in violence that shook the region to its foundation.
President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari.
Also, all serving members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from the region and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, attended the event held at the Banquet Hall in the State House, Alausa.
Buhari, in his remarks, said the vigorous manner of the #EndSARS protest indicated the frustration of the youth, who he said had been ignored for a long time in governance. He said the political class must go beyond the lip service and equip the young people with skills that would make them competitive in market.
The President reiterated his commitment to addressing the root causes of the protest, pointing out the reforms which the youths clamoured for would be done and cases of abuses would be pursued to logical conclusion.
He said: “Our government’s effort are emerging from multiple level. The Vice President and governors are designing an engagement framework through the National Economic Council that will be rolled out across States of the Federation.
“Chief among them is police reform across all its dimensions. Community policing as an additional layer that can resolve some of our security issues.”
Speaking at the event, Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the South-west Governors’ Forum, said the coordinated violence sparked by the #EndSARS protests shook the South-west to its foundation, given the unrestrained manner with which public assets and infrastructure that had sustained the region’s economy were destroyed by hoodlums.
He said the style of the attacks, especially in Lagos, was worrisome, noting that the peace in the region remained fragile in the aftermath of the violence.
Akeredolu said there’s need to fully restore peace in the South-west and address the issues that made youths to be used by those who orchestrated the destruction.
According to him, “Before our very eyes, what started as a peaceful demonstration turned to a different thing that became a threat to all of us, who are regarded as elite. What we witnessed in the violence showed that something needs to be done to address the underlying issues and come out with solutions. We must be able to sustain the peace in our region at all cost.”
To Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the engagement could not have come at a better time than the present period when the region had just come out from disturbing events.
He believed the dialogue would open a new chapter of peace and prosperity in the South-west.
The discussion went into an executive session in which all the South-west Governors, traditional rulers and heads of security agencies deliberated on the way forward.
Oba Ogunwusi, on his part, applauded the initiative, which he described as “right step” but upbraided the political class for lack of consultation with traditional institutions in decision making.
He said the dialogue would bridge the gap of communication between political leaders and traditional rulers.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, attacked the unitary system being practised, saying the arrangement had led to insecurity and restiveness.
Also, Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said security must be fortified in the region to protect the economy of the South-west. He also called for the creation of South-west Development Agenda to revamp and rebuild the destroyed assets.
Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, in his remarks, fingered politicians as the cause of issues that led to the #EndSARS protest, saying unemployment contributed to the problem.
Idowu Sowunmi
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#EndSARS Violence Won’t Discourage Officers from Performing Constitutional Duties – IGP
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, Tuesday visited Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina where he declared that the #EndSARSProtestsTurnedBloody won’t discourage the men and women of the Nigeria Police Force from performing their constitutional duties.
Briefing journalists on his mission in Lagos, IGP said he was in the state for an assessment of the police assets vandalised after the protest and to commiserate with residents.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) visits Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as part of assessment tour of states affected by violence and destruction that followed the #EndSARS protest against police brutality by Nigerian youths. Adamu consoled the governor and people of Lagos over the coordinated arson, which left strategic assets of the state in ruins. He said the police had widened its intelligence to trace and arrest those that carried out the act.
According to him, “Lagos was the epicentre where the #EndSARS protest took place and the number of destruction in the subsequent violence was more in Lagos than any other part. I came to commiserate with the governor and people of the state. The destruction they suffered was uncalled for.
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Counting the Cost: Odumosu Inspects Burnt Police Formations in Lagos
“The second leg of my visit is to see the police stations destroyed and boost the morale of our men in Lagos. We don’t want them to be demoralised by the event in which they suffered personal attacks. Policemen are trained to take such pain. Now that the event has happened, it shouldn’t discourage us from performing our constitutional duties.”
The police chief said he observed that the morale of some officers had dampened in the light of the violence, he noted that his visit would encourage them to give their all in protecting the lives and properties of the citizens.
Adamu said the scale of the destruction witnessed in Lagos and around the country called for the need by Nigerians to adopt standard protocols for public protests whenever they wanted to express their grievances against the system.
“It is very important to set up protocols that will prevent hoodlums to hijack peaceful protest organised with good intentions. The moment the protest organisers don’t have leadership, the purpose and intent of the effort would be defeated. As we have seen in the case of #EndSARS protest, no economy will be able to bear the loss that we have seen in Lagos,” IGP said.
Adamu visited some of the assets torched in Lagos, including the vandalised palace of Oba of Lagos,
Lagos State was the epicentre of the #EndSARS protest, which later snowballed to coordinated violence that led to a large-scale destruction of assets belonging to the state, Federal Government, police and private individuals.
Six police officers were lynched in Lagos, 36 critically injured, while 46 police stations were torched.
Responding, Sanwo-Olu commiserated with Adamu over the mob attacks on police personnel and torching of their stations.
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How President Buhari Intends to Move Forward with #EndSARS Demands
Despite the violence visited on the police formations by hoodlums who hijacked the protest, the governor commended the officers in Lagos State Police Command for exercising restraint in the face of the attacks.
Sanwo-Olu intimated IGP on the move by Lagos State Government to rebuild the razed police stations and offer scholarship awards to the children of the officers killed in the violence.
The governor assured Adamu that all the requests sent to Lagos State Government by the police would be fulfilled, while pledging that the state would be championing a cause to improve citizen-police relationship in order to prevent re-occurrence of the issues that led to the #EndSARS protest.
Those who accompanied IGP include: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of Research and Planning, Leye Oyebade; his counterpart in Force Intelligence, Ibrahim Lamorde; Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Force Operations, Hosea Karma; AIG Zone 2, Ahmed Ilyasu; and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu; among others.
IdowuSowunmi
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Your Claims on Police Shooting at #EndSARS Protesters Untrue, IGP Tells Amnesty International
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has dismissed report by Amnesty International, accusing the police personnel of shoting at peaceful protesters.
While affirming that officers of the Nigeria Police Force acted professionally, Adamu said his men exercised commendable restraints and some paid the supreme price for peace during the recent protests and ensuing violence in some parts of the country.
Reacting to the report by Amnesty International dated October 21 that police personnel shot at peaceful protesters, the police chief described the Amnesty International report as untrue, misleading and contrary to all available empirical evidences.
He noted that during the protests, police officers “used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner and in most cases, physically protected and walked side-by-side with the protesters.”
He reiterated that even when the protests turned violent in some parts of the country, the officers still maintained utmost restraint and did not use excessive force in managing the situations.
“Available Reports show that twenty-two (22) police personnel were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests. Many of the injured personnel are in life threatening conditions at the hospitals.
“Two hundred and five (205) police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters.
“Despite these unprovoked attacks, our police officers never resorted to use of unlawful force or shooting at the protesters as alleged in the report. It also beggars imagination that Amnesty International failed to mention or pay tribute to Police officers who were gruesomely murdered during the protests while serving their fatherland.
“The Force decries the discriminatory tendencies exhibited by Amnesty International as seen in the report. One wonders if in the estimation of Amnesty International, police officers are not also human beings equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights to life and dignity of human person,” said Adamu, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.
The Inspector General of Police, while noting that NPF is committed to the Federal Government’s ongoing holistic reforms of the Force targeted at improving service delivery, positive police-citizen relationship and respect for human rights, enjoined Amnesty International to ensure they subject their reports to adequate scrutiny and proper verification of facts before making the reports public.
Idowu Sowunmi
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How #EndSARS Protest Violently Leads to Death of a Police Inspector Killed, One Bystander and Critically Injures Two Officers in Lagos
The #EndSARS protest Monday turned violent in part of Lagos State as the demonstration consumed the life of a police inspector and a bystander, leaving two other officers critically Injured.
Confirming the development, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti-Kidnapping Unit Office of the command located at Iyun Road in Surulere, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap suspects.
In the ensuing melee, Adejobi said Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493; Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138; and Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit were shot and critically injured.
Aftermath of #EndSARS: Presidential Panel on Police Reforms Okays Five-point Demand of Protesters
According to him, “Today, being 12th October, 2020, at about 1pm, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled.
“In the process, Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Command, located at Iyun Road, Surulere were shot and critically injured; they have been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
“In addition, the protesters fired and killed one Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55 years, a driver of one Toyota Sienna Bus, with Registration Number LSD 296 FX, who got stuck in the traffic caused by the blockage of the road by the violent protesters, in Surulere today.
“It is petinent to state that the attacked police inspectors and Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzu were hit and injured by pellets reasonably fired from pump actions/locally-made guns. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.”
The Public Relations Officer noted that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the Homicide section of SCID, Yaba to carry out thorough investigation into the incidence for further police actions.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Government has also corroborated the narrative by Lagos State Police Command.
The state government, in a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, dismissed the widely publicised notion that an #EndSARS protester was killed.
“The attention of Lagos State Government has been drawn to reports that an #ENDSARS protester has been killed in Surulere. This is not true.
“A group of hoodlums stormed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, to free two suspects standing trial for alleged kidnapping. They shot three officers. One of them, Inspector Erinfolami Ayodeji, unfortunately, died. The others are Inspectors Ekein Joshua and Peter Agabi.
#EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Identifies with Demonstrators, Meets Buhari Tomorrow
“The hoodlums, while escaping, fired into the air. A bystander was hit. He also died – sadly,” Omotoso said.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones, praying God to strengthen them.
He urged all those concerned to ensure that protests do not degenerate further and create room for hoodlums who do not mean well for our society, adding that the state government is working with the police to ensure the restoration of the peace that Lagos has always been proud of.
Also, Lagos State Commissioner of Police has called for calm and professionalism from the protesters and police personnel respectively as the #EndSARS protests have been hijacked by some unscrupulous elements, who are fully armed.
Odumosu urged protesters to be peaceful and avoid violent attacks on police personnel or any other security agents, warning them not to harass innocent Lagosians by picketing them to forcefully join the protests; and should avoid blocking access routes or roads for other Nigerians who are as well entitled to their fundamental human rights.
He also appealed to parents and guardians to keep watch on their children and monitor their activities to avoid being mobilised and used for illegal activities in the state.
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IGP Replaces SARS with SWAT, Directs Personnel of New Team to Report to Abuja for Debriefing and Medical Examination
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday yielded more grounds to the yearnings of the #EndSARS protesters by officially replacing Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with a new team called Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).
The new team is expected to fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS.
Prospective members of the new team, in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020, have been ordered to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment.
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The officers, formerly known as SARS personnel, are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
It would be recalled that Adamu had over the weekend announced the dissolution of SARS unit after days of agitation across the country.
Despite this, protest continues in major South-west, South-south, South-east and North-central regions of the country.
The medical examination would be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a Unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.
#EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Identifies with Demonstrators, Meets Buhari Tomorrow
The unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human Rlrights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.
Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the personnel are to commence training at the different police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
While personnel from the Police Commands in the South-east and the South-south would be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College in Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-west would be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende in Nasarawa State; and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun in Osun State, respectively.
While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the police reforms, IGP enjoined members of the public, particularly protesting citizens to exercise restraint and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a police force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.
Idowu Sowunmi
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Ondo Guber Poll: IGP Deploys DIG, AIG and 11 Commissioners of Police
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, has warned that no security aides would be allowed to accompany VIPs or political appointees on the day of the guber Elelection in Ondo State, noting that severe punishments would be meted out to anyone who violates the order.
This was coming as Adamu has deployed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Research and Planning, Adeleye Oyebade to administer the general security arrangement for the election in the state.
Also, to ensure effective coordination and full implementation of security arrangements towards a peaceful election in the October 10 Ondo State gubernatorial election, IGP deployed Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Federal Operations, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters in Abuja, Karma Hassan, and eleven Commissioners of Police.
Adamu charged Oyebade to bring his wealth of experience to bear by ensuring the due enforcement of all electoral laws throughout the period of the election.
The police chief, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said Garba Umar would be in charge Monitoring/Evaluation and would be assisted by Habu Sani.
Other senior police officers deployed to handle other layers of security in the state are: Abiodun Alabi, Bishi Omololu, Ashafa Kunle, Akeera Yonous, Buba Sanusi, Audu Madaki, Evelyn Peterside, Sadiku Gbenga and Abutu Yaro.
Officers and men of the Force as well as personnel of other security agencies deployed for the election have also been charged by IGP to conduct themselves professionally and work in line with best practices as highlighted in the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Elections.
He also enjoined members of the public, especially politicians and their supporters to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the national assignment of guaranteeing a hitch-free gubernatorial poll.
Idowu Sowunmi
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Oyo: IGP Deploys Additional Crack Detectives to Track Suspected Serial Killer
Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Wednesday deployed additional investigative aids to Oyo State to complement the efforts of the state Police Command in the ongoing manhunt and efforts aimed at re-arresting Sunday Shodipe, a prime suspect in the multiple murder of innocent citizens in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan.
The additional deployment comprises crack detectives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu. The team is expected to bring their vast operational, technical and investigative experience to bear in supporting ongoing efforts aimed at re-arresting and bringing the fugitive to book.
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The police chief, who condemned the unfortunate escape of the suspect from lawful custody, has directed Oyo State Commissioner of Police to intensify efforts and ensure the prompt re-arrest of the fleeing suspect.
The commissioner has also been directed to speed up investigations into the circumstances that led to the escape of the suspect.
“All persons indicted in the escape are to be identified and made to face the wrath of the law. The commissioner has equally been mandated to immediately assess and rejig the security architecture in the state so as to prevent any future occurrence of untoward incidents,” said a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.
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Meanwhile, Adamu has called for calm and enjoined citizens to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that could lead to the unearthing of the whereabouts of Sunday Shodipe, the suspected serial killer in Ibadan.
Idowu Sowunmi
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Malami Orders Police Chief to Provide Security for 17 Edo Lawmakers
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Friday directed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to provide security for the 17 lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
Malami, in a letter dated August 5 based on a petition to his office by Idahosa-West Chambers, said the security measure has become necessary to prevent breakdown of law and order.
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Update: President Buhari receives Edo gubernatorial candidate, Eze-Iyamu, presents party flag
The 17 lawmakers, who are supporting APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have been locked in a battle to access Edo State House of Assembly complex on Ring Road, Benin against seven legislators loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Malami’s letter below:
