Police Won’t Recruit Repentant Criminals, Terrorists — DIG Isyaku
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of the North-Central Zone, Isyaku Mohammed, has declared that repentant terrorists and other criminal elements will not be recruited into the Nigeria Police Force.
Mohammed made the declaration on Thursday during a stakeholders’ security meeting held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The meeting was attended by senior police officers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, transport union officials and other critical stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, the DIG urged community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other influential figures to refrain from recommending individuals with criminal backgrounds for recruitment into security agencies.
He said the police had strengthened its screening process to prevent terrorists, repentant criminals and other undesirable elements from infiltrating the force.
“Our responsibility is to protect our territory and ensure that repentant criminals do not find their way into the Nigeria Police Force,” Mohammed said.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that not only repentant criminals but also other bad elements are prevented from joining the force. We appeal to our stakeholders not to identify, recommend or stand surety for such individuals. Instead, expose them. We will not allow them into the system.”
The DIG stressed that traditional rulers and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) have a responsibility to ensure that only persons of proven integrity are endorsed for recruitment.
Drawing from his experience while serving in the North-East, Mohammed recalled that the military had rehabilitated former Boko Haram fighters under the Federal Government’s deradicalisation programme. However, he noted that many communities were reluctant to accept their reintegration.
“I do not expect traditional rulers or DPOs to recommend anyone with a history of criminality simply because the person claims to have repented,” he said.
Mohammed also announced plans to inaugurate a joint border patrol aimed at tackling cross-border crimes across Kwara State’s boundary corridors.
He noted that Kwara shares borders with Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi and Niger states, as well as the Republic of Benin, making coordinated security operations essential.
According to him, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed all Deputy Inspectors-General to visit states within their respective zones to engage stakeholders, assess prevailing security challenges and develop practical solutions.
“The joint border patrol will strengthen surveillance along our border corridors and prevent criminal activities across the affected areas,” he said.
The DIG further advocated the adoption of community policing as a vital strategy for preventing crime, stressing that timely intelligence sharing, stronger collaboration with local communities and meaningful youth engagement remain critical to improving security and steering young people away from criminal activities.