IGP Disu cancels leave for election-duty police and bars senior officers from leaving their commands

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cancelled leave for police personnel assigned to election security and restricted the movement of senior officers ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to TheStar and Punch.

Disu directed all Commissioners of Police and other senior officers to remain in their commands until the end of the electoral process. Any travel outside an officer's area of responsibility must now be approved by Force Headquarters. The directives were announced on Wednesday at the monthly conference of strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

The IGP also ordered Commissioners of Police in states affected by bandit attacks to submit updated security threat assessments and operational requirements within 72 hours. He directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel, mobility and air support to communities facing banditry, and tasked the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations to coordinate the exercise.

"Bandit attacks are ongoing in some states across the federation, and communities in those areas continue to face real threats to their safety and livelihoods," he said. He added that the Force would intensify intelligence-led operations and deepen intelligence gathering through traditional rulers, village heads, hunters' associations and local vigilante groups.

On election preparations, Disu told commissioners to verify the readiness of security equipment, communication facilities, vehicles and protective gear, with reports due by the end of the week. He also directed commands to set up direct coordination with the Independent National Electoral Commission, the military, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The police chief warned officers against political interference and thuggery. "I will not tolerate any officer using the authority of the police to advance the interest of any political party, candidate or sponsor," he said. Officers found colluding with political actors or undermining the electoral process would face disciplinary action, he added, insisting that the police remain non-partisan.

He also gave figures for what the Force has done since the last strategic officers' conference: 218 suspects arrested for banditry and terrorism, 85 suspected armed robbers, 129 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 59 suspected kidnappers and 120 suspected cultists.

The leave cancellation affects personnel on election security duty and does not, in the reports reviewed, say how long it will last or which units are covered. Police officers and their families will watch for details, since the elections are still some months away.

The figures are the Force's own and were not independently verified. The statement is the clearest sign yet of how the police plan to manage the 2027 election season.