The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of ICT and the Southwest, DIG Adegoke Fayoade, has commenced a regional security engagement in Ibadan, Oyo State, with a renewed emphasis on technology-driven policing and community intelligence integration.
The visit, which included meetings with Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, formed part of a broader effort to strengthen real-time security coordination and deepen data-backed policing strategies across the Southwest.
Rather than routine courtesy calls, the engagements focused on building a layered security architecture anchored on digital intelligence, rapid response systems, and closer collaboration between formal security agencies and community structures.
At the Government House, discussions centred on expanding intelligence-sharing frameworks and improving coordination between state institutions and federal policing systems to respond more effectively to evolving threats.
The Olubadan’s palace engagement highlighted the role of traditional institutions as critical nodes in grassroots intelligence gathering, particularly in tracking local security dynamics and supporting early warning systems.
A key highlight of the tour was a strategic briefing at the Oyo State Police Command, where the DIG emphasized the deployment of advanced technological tools for intelligence-led operations, including ongoing efforts to locate and rescue abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
He assured that the operation is being driven by technical surveillance and coordinated intelligence assets, with priority placed on the safe recovery of the victims.
Fayoade also used the visit to push internal reforms within the Force, urging officers to embrace digital policing tools, improve response discipline, and strengthen public trust through accountability and professionalism.
According to him, modern policing increasingly depends on speed, data accuracy, and community cooperation, warning that gaps in trust could weaken intelligence flow and operational effectiveness.
The Oyo State Police Command described the visit as a strategic boost to ongoing security operations, noting that the engagement reinforces a shift toward more adaptive and technology-centred policing methods.
The Southwest tour is expected to continue across the remaining states in the region, with focus areas including operational audits, stakeholder intelligence networks, and expansion of tech-enabled policing systems.