The Nigeria Police Force says early action on intelligence and warning signals could help prevent kidnapping attacks, urging Nigerians to promptly report credible threats and support investigations with relevant evidence.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, stated this at a joint security press briefing organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
Responding to questions from security correspondents, Iniedu said the Police receive intelligence and warning information daily and remain committed to acting on threats despite the risks faced by personnel.
The disclosure shifts part of the focus in Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis from the aftermath of abductions to the effectiveness of the warning-to-response chain, including whether communities report credible threats early enough and whether information supplied to security agencies can be converted into timely intervention.
CSP Iniedu said the Police Force has identified early warning indicators associated with successful kidnapping operations and pointed to a recent attack in which security personnel had received information that more than 600 armed bandits were moving towards a community in Kebbi State.
He said the affected personnel chose to remain at their position and engage the attackers, resulting in the loss of police officers during the confrontation.
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The Police spokesman said even investigations involving alleged police misconduct can be weakened when complainants fail to appear or provide evidence required to establish the facts.
He said for the security system, the implication is significant. Intelligence that produces an operational response but cannot later be supported by witnesses, documentation or other admissible evidence can leave investigations vulnerable at the prosecution stage.
Greater Public Participation
The Police Force is therefore seeking greater public participation not only in reporting threats but also in sustaining cases after arrests have been made.
The briefing also produced a defence of the Police Force’s renewed use of technology through the Vigilant App, following questions from correspondents about the effectiveness of previous police technology platforms.
He noted that the Vigilant App differs from earlier arrangements because the current platform is being operated in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and was developed by police personnel.
The Force’s position is that the platform is intended to improve the speed of handling fraud-related cases, particularly where existing legal and investigative processes can create delays.
Rather than judging the system solely on its initial performance, the Police spokesman urged the public to give the platform time to demonstrate its effectiveness.
The Police Force also placed political communication within its preparations for the forthcoming electoral cycle, warning political stakeholders against statements capable of inciting violence.
CSP Iniedu said comments by political actors considered potentially inciting were already under investigation and maintained that the Force would enforce the law regardless of the office held by those involved.
He linked the warning to the beginning of Nigeria’s electoral process, arguing that inflammatory political statements could complicate efforts to maintain public order during an increasingly sensitive period.
The position signals that election security preparations will extend beyond physical deployment and crowd control to monitoring conduct capable of triggering public disorder or violence.
Osun Election
The Police spokesman also disclosed that approximately 154 persons had been arrested and were undergoing investigation in connection with security incidents surrounding the Osun State elections.
He, however, rejected what he described as an inaccurate representation of the Police Force’s election posture, saying the Force’s election room remained open and the Osun State Police Command remained available to respond to questions concerning the conduct of the polls.
The Police Force maintains that its personnel remain prepared to respond to threats, but its appeal for greater public cooperation places community reporting and witness participation firmly within the country’s broader counter-kidnapping strategy.
