The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, represented by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd.), has urged global law enforcement leaders to ensure that technological innovations strengthen public trust, transparency and respect for human rights.
The call was made at the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026) on Innovation and New Technologies in UN Policing on Wednesday.
The police chief warned that embracing technological advancement should never diminish the confidence citizens place in policing institutions.
“Technology can enhance policing, but it can never replace public trust. The legitimacy of every police institution rests on the confidence of the people it serves,” he said.
He noted that while technology would continue to transform policing, trust would remain the defining pillar of every credible law enforcement institution.
“Together, through responsible innovation and visionary leadership, we can build policing institutions that are not only smarter but more trusted, more inclusive and better equipped to secure a peaceful world,” he said.
The IGP said the Nigeria Police Force, which serves more than 230 million people, was navigating rapid digital transformation, making innovation “no longer a choice” but “an operational necessity.”
“Criminal networks now exploit artificial intelligence, encrypted communication and cyber-enabled fraud to operate across borders with high sophistication.
“This challenges traditional policing models and forces us to rethink how we protect vulnerable communities”, he added.
He, however, said the same technologies exploited by criminal networks also presented “extraordinary opportunities” for law enforcement agencies worldwide.
“Artificial intelligence, digital forensics and geospatial intelligence are transforming how we anticipate threats and conduct investigations,” he said.
According to him, innovation must strengthen transparency, accountability and respect for human rights rather than undermine democratic policing principles.
“Innovation must therefore strengthen transparency, accountability and respect for human rights. Technology should complement human judgment, not replace it.
“It must always remain anchored in the rule of law and the protection of human dignity,” he said.
The IGP stressed that the future of UN policing depended on ensuring that technological innovation benefits every nation, regardless of its level of development.
“To achieve this, the benefits of innovation must not remain the exclusive preserve of technologically advanced nations.
“The future of UN policing must be founded upon genuine international cooperation, capacity building and equitable access to digital capabilities for all member states,” he said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting collaborative international policing efforts aimed at promoting global peace, security and the rule of law through responsible technological innovation.
The summit brought together 145 delegations, comprising ministers, inspectors-general of police, chiefs of police and senior representatives of regional and professional policing organisations at the UN Headquarters, recording the highest level of participation since its inception.
The summit focused on the future of UN policing, innovation and emerging technologies, as well as international cooperation to address transnational security challenges.
NAN
punch.ng
FOLLOW US ON:
