The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, declared open a nationwide training session for operatives who will manage the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Database System at zonal, divisional, and state levels across the country.
Reintroducing the centrality of data to policing, the IGP emphasized that the new database marks a decisive shift from outdated, reactive policing models to a modern, intelligence-driven system rooted in data, memory, and predictive analysis.
He noted, “Without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals.”
According to him, the Criminal Database System is designed to serve as the heartbeat of intelligence-led policing. It will enable the tracking of repeat offenders across jurisdictions, detection of crime patterns, seamless intelligence sharing, and support of 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, thereby closing loopholes that criminals previously exploited through porous borders or weak record systems.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Egbetokun charged participating operatives to treat their roles with utmost professionalism, discipline, and integrity, stressing that every record entered or verified represents a crucial weapon in the fight against crime.
He added that the reform is a key component of the Police Reform Agenda, designed to end the era of scattered files and forgotten cases while strengthening accountability and public confidence in the Force.
Commenting on the development, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, reaffirmed that the criminal database will be a game-changer for Nigerian policing, enabling data-backed operations that enhance transparency, strengthen justice delivery, and rebuild public trust.
