The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Wednesday received a delegation from TAF Africa at the IGP’s Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he pledged deeper commitment to inclusive policing for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
The delegation was led by Dr Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of TAF Africa, and included Mrs Brenda Anyanwu, CEO of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF); Mr Mayowa Aderibigbe, Executive Director of TAF Africa; and Mr Agaba Jacob, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), alongside other members of the three organisations.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Epelle praised the IGP’s leadership, noting that his administration had intentionally embraced inclusive policing in carrying out its mandate to protect lives and property.
He also commended the professionalism of officers deployed during the recently concluded off-cycle elections, singling out the Osun State poll for mention.
Dr Epelle appealed to the IGP to champion a smart security architecture that accommodates PWDs and sought approval to organise the first Inclusive Security Summit, to be funded by the European Union, with the IGP invited to formally declare it open.
Mrs Anyanwu called for closer collaboration between the NWTF and the Force Gender Unit to strengthen gender inclusivity within the police.
Mr Jacob, for his part, urged greater involvement of PWDs in policing work, particularly intelligence-related assignments, and called for stronger protections for PWDs, whom he described as among the groups most vulnerable to crime, including sexual offences.
The delegation also pressed for disability-focused policing strategies and structured frameworks for engaging the PWD community.
Responding, IGP Disu described the visit as an eye-opener and reaffirmed his commitment to training and retraining personnel on effective, dignified engagement with PWDs, in line with their rights under national and international law.
He pledged that PWDs would be actively included in policing arrangements for the forthcoming general election, with measures put in place to allow them to vote freely, without humiliation or intimidation.
The Force reiterated its commitment to protecting the lives and property of all residents without discrimination, through more inclusive and intentional policing.
