The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, today, September 25th, 2025, declared open a training session for operatives who will be responsible for manning the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Database Systems across zonal, divisional, and state levels of the country.
Speaking at the opening session in Abuja, the IGP emphasized that the initiative marks a decisive shift from outdated, reactive policing models to a modern, intelligence-driven system rooted in data, memory, and predictive analysis. According to the IGP, “without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals.”
The IGP described the Criminal Database Systems as the heartbeat of intelligence-led policing, designed to track repeat offenders across jurisdictions, detect crime patterns, share intelligence seamlessly, and support prosecutions with credible evidence. The system will also integrate Nigeria’s policing architecture with global platforms such as INTERPOL, the African Union Border Programme, and UNODC frameworks, ensuring that criminals can no longer exploit borders or weak records to evade justice.
Highlighting the significance of the training, IGP Egbetokun charged participating operatives to treat their roles with professionalism, discipline, and integrity, noting that every record entered or verified is a vital weapon in the fight against crime. He stressed that this reform is an integral component of the Police Reform Agenda, which seeks to end the era of scattered files and forgotten cases.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the development as a landmark stride in Nigeria’s policing history. He noted that the criminal database will not only enhance proactive policing but also serve as a trusted repository of evidence that strengthens the credibility of police investigations and judicial processes.
By Folake Sokoya