By Nkechi Eze
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has declared open the official training programme for operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on the newly developed criminal database systems, describing the initiative as a milestone in the nation’s policing architecture and a bold step into a new era of intelligence-driven law enforcement.
The training, which took place in September 2025, brings together operatives drawn from the zonal, state, and divisional commands of the Force who will be saddled with the critical responsibility of managing and manning Nigeria’s new crime data infrastructure. According to the IGP, the database is not merely a collection of electronic records but “the memory of our justice system and the heartbeat of intelligence-led policing.”
IGP Egbetokun stressed that the new system would revolutionize the way the Police track, record, and analyze criminal activity across jurisdictions. “They will help us track repeat offenders across jurisdictions, detect patterns of crime, and share intelligence seamlessly across divisions, zones, and headquarters. They will strengthen prosecutions, support judges with credible records, and integrate Nigeria into global systems like INTERPOL. In short, these databases will become the nervous system of Nigerian policing in the 21st century,” he declared.
Charging the operatives undergoing training, the Police Chief emphasized the critical national importance of their new roles. “You will be the custodians of Nigeria’s crime data. Every case you enter, every record you preserve, every link you verify, will strengthen justice in our nation. You are not merely handling files; you are safeguarding the future,” he said, warning that their accuracy, diligence, and vigilance could make the difference between criminals escaping justice or being convicted.
He described the launch of the criminal database systems as part of the Force’s broader Police Reform Agenda, aimed at ending decades of weak records, scattered files, and fragmented intelligence that have often hampered effective policing. “That era ends today. With the support of the Federal Government and our partners, we are building a system where every arrest is recorded, every case is documented, and every officer is accountable. No case will vanish into forgotten files. No conviction will disappear into silence. And let me add that this reform is not for the Police alone, it is for the Nigerian people,” the IGP affirmed.
He noted that improved record-keeping would also restore public trust in the Police. “When citizens know their complaints are properly recorded, when they see follow-through in investigations, their confidence in the Police grows. Trust begins with record-keeping,” he added.
Highlighting the global dimension of the reform, the IGP said the integration of Nigeria’s criminal database with international policing networks such as INTERPOL, the African Union Border Programme, and UNODC frameworks in West Africa would ensure that Nigerian criminals no longer find safe havens abroad. “When a trafficker is convicted in Nigeria, the world must know. When a weapon is seized at our borders, its trail must echo across continents. This is the power of database-driven policing,” he stated.
The Police Chief also paid tribute to officers who have paid the supreme price in the fight against crime. “Too many officers have lost their lives in the fight against criminals, their work left in dusty files and forgotten records. Today’s reform is also a tribute to them. We owe it to every fallen hero that their sacrifices will never again be lost in unkept files. Their service will live on in the digital memory of this Force,” he remarked.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his vision of a safe and digital Nigeria, as well as to the Police Service Commission, the Ministry of Interior, and international partners for their technical and financial support in driving the reforms.
To the trainees, the IGP issued a strong charge: “Learn with focus, apply with discipline, and serve with pride. When you return to your duty posts, do not see this system as a machine to be managed, but as a weapon to be sharpened. Every keystroke you make is a strike against crime. Every record you preserve is a shield for justice. Every report you file is a testimony of accountability. After this training, go back to your desks determined. Be thorough. Be proud to be part of this transformation.”
Declaring the training officially open, the IGP reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a modern Police Force that Nigerians can trust and the international community can respect. “Together, we will build a Police Force that is modern, trusted by our people, and respected across the world,” he concluded.
