COAS Calls for Total Security Unity as New IGP Pledges Stronger Army-Police Partnership

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for a unified and coordinated approach among all security agencies to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

The statement was signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, on 25 March 2026.

Lieutenant General Shaibu made the declaration while hosting the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu during his maiden familiarisation visit to the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting underscored the urgent need for deepened inter-agency collaboration to address banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality across the country.

IGP Disu lauded the longstanding partnership between the Nigerian Army and the Police Force, highlighting the Army’s critical role in training Police Mobile Force personnel, which has enhanced operational efficiency nationwide.

He assured the Army of continued intelligence sharing and operational coordination to strengthen joint security operations.

In his response, Lieutenant General Shaibu congratulated IGP Disu on his appointment and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to “jointness” in line with his command philosophy.

He recalled their shared service in the United Nations Mission in Darfur, noting the strong professional foundation of cooperation between them.

Shaibu also acknowledged the Police Force’s support to Army operations in Kogi, Kwara, and Niger States, where ongoing campaigns against banditry and kidnapping are yielding tangible results.

“Only through a unified and well-coordinated inter-agency framework can we achieve enduring peace and security nationwide,” the COAS declared.

The engagement highlights a renewed push for seamless cooperation between Nigeria’s major security institutions at a critical time when internal security threats continue to challenge national resilience.