BY Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reassured Nigerians of sustained security vigilance across the country amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their potential global ripple effects.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Olatunji Disu, gave the assurance on Saturday, stressing that the Force remains unwavering in its constitutional mandate to protect lives, property and preserve national peace.
The assurance came following United States – Israel joint attacks on Iran and subsequent killing of the Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the joint strike,.
US president Donald Trump said, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” in a post he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Images from Iran showed damage to Khamenei’s compound in Tehran on Saturday as result of the raids, and the Israeli prime minister said there were growing signs he was “gone”. Iranian state media later confirmed Kkamenei’s death.
Expectedly, dozens of people were reportedly killed across the country and response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks throughout the Middle East, especially gulf states providing bases for the US missile assaults.
Iran’s foreign minister has accused Israel and the US of launching a war that was “wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate.”
Also, Dr. Ali Larijani, Head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council condemned the US – Israel joint attacks on his country.
He vowed that the Iranians would deliver unforgettable lessons to the US and Israel, labelling them as “oppressors.”
“We will make the Zionist criminals and the dishonorable Americans regret their actions. The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will deliver an unforgettable lesson to the infernal oppressors on the international stage,” he said.
The UN secretary general and a number of world leaders from Brazil to China have also condemned the attacks, while a joint statement by the leaders of the UK, France and Germany urged Iran to refrain from further strikes and give up its weapons programmes.
In Nigeria, there was a image of street procession in Niger State by people suspected to be Shiites with Iranian flags on display and showing solidarity with the embattled Iran and its leaders.
Reacting to the development on Sunday, in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police hierarchy maintained that while Nigeria remains stable and its internal security architecture intact, proactive measures have been reinforced to forestall any spillover from global tensions.
According to the statement, the Acting IGP has directed Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to heighten surveillance and intensify intelligence gathering, particularly in the North West, North East and North Central zones.
The directive also mandates enhanced collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, improved visibility policing around worship centres and public spaces, and swift response to any attempt by individuals or groups to exploit foreign developments to incite unrest or sectarian discord.
“While Nigeria remains stable and its internal security situation firmly under control, the Force has reinforced proactive, intelligence-led policing measures across the country,” the IGP stated.
He was unequivocal that Nigeria would not serve as a battleground for external ideological or religious conflicts.
“The Nigeria Police Force reiterates that Nigeria will not serve as a theatre for foreign conflicts. Any attempt to import external ideological or religious tensions into the country will be met with the full weight of the law,” the statement emphasised.
Acting IGP Disu further called on community leaders nationwide to sustain their peace-building efforts and urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding.
He encouraged Nigerians to promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police formation, assuring that security agencies remain alert and prepared to respond decisively to any threat.
The police leadership reaffirmed its resolve to safeguard every Nigerian and maintain national security at all times, insisting that the Force remains “resolute, prepared, and fully committed” to preserving the country’s peace in the face of evolving global uncertainties.
