Backs Zamfara Police in Renewed Push Against Banditry
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Tuesday paid a working visit to Zamfara State, where he joined grieving families, police personnel, and community members in honouring three officers who lost their lives while confronting criminal elements in the state.
The visit underscored the Nigeria Police Force’s determination to sustain pressure on armed bandits and other violent criminals operating across Zamfara and the wider North-West region.
At the Islamic funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) held for the slain officers, the Inspector-General paid tribute to their courage and sacrifice, describing them as gallant personnel who gave their lives in service to the nation.
The IGP was received by key government and security officials, including the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Mallam Abubakar M. Nakwada, who represented Governor Dauda Lawal during the funeral and related engagements.
Following the funeral prayers, Disu proceeded to the Zamfara State Police Command headquarters, where he met with officers and men of the command. He expressed the condolences of the Force Management Team and the entire Nigeria Police Force to the families of the deceased officers, assuring them that their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
While acknowledging the pain of the loss, the police chief maintained that the incident would not weaken ongoing security operations. Instead, he said, it should strengthen the resolve of officers in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes threatening communities across the state.
“The greatest tribute to our fallen colleagues is to remain committed to the cause for which they gave their lives,” he told officers during the visit.
Disu also commended the Zamfara State Command for a string of recent operational successes. According to him, the command has recorded significant breakthroughs, including the arrest of criminal suspects, the recovery of explosives and other dangerous materials, the rescue of kidnapped victims, and successful operations targeting armed bandits.
The Inspector-General noted that the achievements reflect the growing impact of intelligence-led policing, improved operational coordination, and collaboration among security agencies working in the state.
He further assured officers that the Force Headquarters would continue efforts to strengthen operational capacity through improved logistics, welfare support, and other resources required for effective policing.
The visit comes at a critical period in Zamfara’s security landscape, where security agencies have intensified operations against armed groups responsible for attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal activities in several parts of the state.
Disu reiterated the importance of intelligence gathering, community partnership, and inter-agency cooperation, stressing that lasting peace can only be achieved through sustained collaboration between security agencies and the communities they serve.
For the officers of the Zamfara State Command, the message from the nation’s top cop was clear: the loss of their colleagues is a painful reminder of the risks of policing, but it is also a call to remain resilient in the pursuit of peace, security, and justice.
As Zamfara continues its battle against banditry, the visit served both as a moment of mourning and a reaffirmation of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to restoring safety and public confidence across the state.
