Criminal groups terrorising Nigerians are now far ahead of security agencies. They are no longer ragtag gangs, but sophisticated networks armed with money, weapons, and technology.

This chilling revelation was made by no less a person than Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at a meeting with commanders of border patrol units, he urged officers to rise to the challenge.

“Let me say this to you: when you mount a checkpoint, when you block a smuggling route, when you rescue a victim—you are not just doing your job; you are shaping the future of Nigeria.”

The police chief admitted that the nature of crime in Nigeria has changed dramatically.

“But let us be clear: the threats we face are changing every day. Criminal groups are no longer ragtag gangs. They are sophisticated, they are well-funded, and they are international. They use drones, falsified documents, and encrypted networks to stay ahead.”

He told the officers that outdated tools would not win the battle.

“We cannot fight 21st-century crime with 20th-century tools. That is why we must embrace technology, surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, real-time data analysis. These are not luxuries; they are necessities. And we will continue to fight for them until every officer on the frontline is equipped to match the sophistication of those you face.”

The meeting later continued behind closed doors.

Border Weaknesses a National Risk

Egbetokun described Nigeria’s borders as vulnerable and complex, stretching more than 4,000 kilometres of land boundaries, plus maritime corridors linking to the Gulf of Guinea.

While they remain vital channels of trade and culture, he warned that they also serve as entry points for dangerous threats.

“For too long, the porosity of our borders has been exploited. We have seen the inflow of small arms and light weapons that fuel violence in our villages and cities. We have seen contraband goods smuggled in, crippling our local industries. We have seen vulnerable women and children deceived and trafficked across borders. We have confronted terrorists and criminal syndicates who take advantage of these weaknesses to infiltrate and destabilize our communities.”

The IGP called on border patrol units to see themselves as defenders of Nigeria’s survival, not just gatekeepers of its boundaries.

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