Tunji Disu, the inspector-general of police, has urged global law enforcement leaders to ensure that technological innovations strengthen public trust, transparency and human rights.

Mr Disu made the call while addressing the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026) on Innovation and New Technologies in UN Policing on Wednesday. He 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,” Mr Disu said.

The IGP said technology would continue to transform policing, but 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.

Mr Disu said the Nigeria Police Force, serving over 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,” Mr Disu noted. “This challenges traditional policing models and forces us to rethink how we protect vulnerable communities.”

Mr Disu, however, said the same technologies exploited by criminal networks also presented “extraordinary opportunities” for law enforcement agencies worldwide, pointing out that “artificial intelligence, digital forensics and geospatial intelligence are transforming how we anticipate threats and conduct investigations”.

According to him, innovation must strengthen transparency, accountability and respect for human rights rather than undermine democratic policing principles.

Mr Disu restated that the future of UN policing depended on ensuring that technological innovation benefits every nation, regardless of its level of development.

The police boss reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting collaborative international policing efforts to promote global peace, security, and the rule of law through responsible technological innovation.

The summit brought together 145 delegations, comprising ministers, chiefs of police, and senior representatives of regional and professional policing organisations, at UN Headquarters, the highest level of participation to date.

The purpose of the summit was to discuss the future of UN Police, innovation, new technologies and international cooperation to address transnational challenges.

(NAN)