Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has expressed concern over the growing sophistication of criminal networks in Nigeria, admitting that these groups are increasingly outpacing security agencies in strategy, resources, and technology.
While speaking at a meeting with commanders of border patrol units at Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Egbetokun described the evolution of crime as alarming, noting that criminals are no longer the “ragtag” gangs of the past but highly organized, well-funded, and internationally connected.
He highlighted that these groups now employ drones, falsified documents, encrypted communication networks, and other advanced technologies to terrorize communities and evade law enforcement.
“The threats we face are changing every day,” Egbetokun said. “We cannot fight 21st-century crime with 20th-century tools. Technology like surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and real-time data analysis are not luxuries—they are necessities. We must ensure that every officer on the frontline is equipped to match the sophistication of those they face.”
Egbetokun also underscored the vulnerabilities of Nigeria’s borders, which span over 4,000 kilometers of land boundaries and extensive maritime corridors linking the country to the Gulf of Guinea.
While borders facilitate trade and cultural exchange, he warned they have also become entry points for significant threats, including the smuggling of arms, contraband goods, human trafficking, and infiltration by terrorists.
“For too long, the porosity of our borders has been exploited. We’ve seen weapons fueling violence in our villages, contraband crippling local industries, and women and children trafficked across borders,” he stated.
The IGP urged officers to see themselves as more than enforcers of the law but as guardians of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Every checkpoint you mount, every smuggling route you block, every victim you rescue—you are shaping the future of Nigeria,” he said.
Following his remarks, the meeting transitioned into a closed-door session to discuss strategies for combating these challenges.
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