The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has declared that no single agency can secure Nigeria’s borders alone, stressing that the fight against insecurity requires “unity of purpose” among security and law enforcement institutions.
Egbetokun stated on Thursday at a strategic meeting with Force Border Patrol Commanders at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The IG’s call comes amid concerted efforts by security agencies to fight insecurity across the country, leading to the arrest of and arraignment of two high-profile commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group.
The suspects, identified as Mahmud Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri, were brought before a Federal High Court to face terrorism-related charges after they were apprehended between May and July 2025, in a joint intelligence-led operation involving the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, and the Armed Forces.
Egbetokun said the complexity of modern threats had made seamless collaboration between agencies and other stakeholders a necessity rather than an option.
He noted that joint operations have already produced positive results, pointing to recent seizures of arms and narcotics that were only possible through coordinated action.
“No single agency can secure Nigeria’s borders alone. The complexity of modern threats demands unity of purpose to defeat the multifaceted security challenges facing the country.
“When we share intelligence, when we conduct joint operations, the results speak for themselves. In recent months, joint patrols have led to major arms and narcotics seizures. These are proof that the enemy can be defeated when we stand together. The criminals are united in their mission; therefore, we must also be united in ours,” he said.
Egbetokun described Nigeria’s borders as the “doors” of the nation, warning that weak borders invite danger.
He highlighted the strategic importance of Nigeria’s over 4,000 kilometres of land boundaries and maritime corridors that connect the country to the Gulf of Guinea.
While acknowledging their role in trade, culture, and human interaction, he warned that the same routes had been exploited for smuggling, trafficking, and terrorism.
“A house without a door is a shelter for strangers. Our borders are Nigeria’s doors. If those doors are weak, every danger walks in freely. If they are strong, our children can sleep soundly in their beds. You are the guardians of those doors. You are the sentinels who stand at the very edges of our sovereignty. You are the reason Nigeria can remain a secure home for its people.
“For too long, the porosity of our borders has been exploited. We have seen the inflow of small arms and light weapons that fuel violence in our villages and cities. We have seen contraband goods smuggled in, crippling our local industries.
“We have seen vulnerable women and children deceived and trafficked across borders. We have confronted terrorists and criminal syndicates who take advantage of these weaknesses to infiltrate and destabilise our communities,” he told the commanders.
Egbetokun urged border commanders to rise above routine policing, emphasising that their role extended to national survival.
He further cautioned that criminals are becoming more sophisticated, leveraging drones, falsified documents, and encrypted networks.
To counter them, the Police Chief said law enforcement must embrace technology such as surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and real-time data analysis.
“We cannot fight 21st-century crime with 20th-century tools. These are not luxuries; they are necessities. And we will continue to fight for them until every officer on the frontline is equipped to match the sophistication of those you face,” he stated.
Egbetokun also added that efforts were ongoing with the Federal Government and development partners to improve officers’ tools, mobility, housing, and insurance, while paying tribute to fallen heroes of the Force, saying their sacrifice in defence of Nigeria’s borders “will never be forgotten.”
