IGP Disu Assures PWDs of Dignified Treatment During Elections

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has assured persons living with disabilities (PWDs) of improved protection and dignified treatment during elections, promising measures to enable them exercise their voting rights without intimidation or humiliation.

Disu gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received a delegation from TAF Africa at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation, led by the founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Dr Jake Epelle, included representatives of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB).

Epelle commended the IGP for what he described as a deliberate effort to promote inclusive policing and also praised the conduct of police personnel deployed during recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State election.

He urged the police authorities to develop a smart security architecture that would adequately accommodate the needs of persons living with disabilities.

Epelle also sought the IGP’s support for the proposed first Inclusive Security Summit, which is to be funded by the European Union, and requested that Disu attend and declare the event open.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for representatives of women and persons with disabilities to push for greater inclusion within the police and the broader security system.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Mrs Brenda Anyanwu, called for strategic cooperation between her organisation and the Force Gender Unit to promote gender inclusivity within the Nigeria Police Force.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, Agaba Jacob, called for greater involvement of PWDs in policing, particularly in intelligence-related assignments.

Jacob also drew attention to the vulnerability of persons living with disabilities to criminal activities, including sexual offences, and urged the police to strengthen measures for their protection.

The delegation further advocated the development of structured frameworks for police engagement with the PWD community and the adoption of disability-focused policing strategies.

Responding, Disu described the visit as an “eye-opener” and pledged to strengthen the training and retraining of police personnel on effective and dignified engagement with persons living with disabilities.

The IGP said the Force recognised the rights and vulnerabilities of PWDs under relevant national and international laws, stressing that those principles must be reflected in police operations.

He particularly linked the commitment to the forthcoming general election, assuring that the police would put measures in place to ensure that persons living with disabilities could participate in the electoral process freely.

Disu said PWDs must be able to exercise their franchise without humiliation or intimidation, reinforcing the Force’s responsibility to provide security for all citizens without discrimination.

The engagement came amid growing calls for security agencies to make election-related processes more accessible and responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant organisations and stakeholders to promote a more inclusive approach to policing and ensure the protection of the rights of all residents.