The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, PSC (+), NPM, has pledged to strengthen the participation and protection of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) within Nigeria’s policing framework.
Disu made the commitment on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, when he received a delegation from TAF Africa, led by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jake Epelle, at the IGP’s Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The delegation included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Mrs Brenda Anyanwu; Executive Director of TAF Africa, Mr Mayowa Aderibigbe; Chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), Mr Agaba Jacob; and other representatives of the three organisations.
Epelle commended the IGP for what he described as his deliberate embrace of inclusive policing and also praised police personnel for their professionalism during the recently concluded off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State election.
He urged the Force to develop a smart security architecture that accommodates PWDs and sought the IGP’s approval to organise the first Inclusive Security Summit, to be funded by the European Union, with Disu expected to declare the event open.
The meeting also focused on gender representation and the role of PWDs in policing. Anyanwu called for a strategic partnership between the NWTF and the Force Gender Unit to advance gender inclusivity, while Jacob advocated greater involvement of PWDs in policing, particularly intelligence-related assignments.
Jacob also called for stronger safeguards for PWDs, who he noted are particularly vulnerable to crimes, including sexual offences. The delegation further proposed disability-focused policing and structured engagement between the Force and the PWD community.
Responding, Disu described the visit as an “eye-opener” and pledged to strengthen the training and retraining of police personnel on respectful and effective engagement with persons living with disabilities.
He said the Force recognises the rights and vulnerabilities of PWDs under relevant national and international laws, adding that they would receive greater consideration in policing arrangements for the forthcoming general election.
According to the IGP, measures will be put in place to enable PWDs exercise their franchise freely and without humiliation or intimidation.
The engagement reinforces the Nigeria Police Force’s stated commitment to a policing model that protects all residents without discrimination while creating room for vulnerable groups to participate meaningfully in public safety.