Police to strengthen CRU, seek media collaboration

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has intensified efforts to enhance internal accountability and transparency by upgrading its Complaint Response Unit (CRU), the central digital platform dedicated to tracking and resolving citizen grievances, and has sought the collaboration of the media.

​The newly-appointed Force Public Relations Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Anietie Edem, made this known on Friday.

He spoke during a courtesy visit to the Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.

​In a statement issued on Saturday by the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Grace Ike, Edem said the visit was part of a familiarisation tour aimed at building deeper media collaboration to raise public awareness about ongoing police reforms.

​According to him, the CRU operates round the clock as the Force’s primary internal accountability mechanism, handling allegations of professional misconduct, extortion, harassment, and human rights abuses across the country.

He said that recent upgrades to the unit were tailored to shorten response time, improve case tracking, and ensure clearer reporting of outcomes.

Edem said that the drive was propelled by the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, to institutional reform.

​To further deepen police-media relations at the regional level, he announced plans for an upcoming media parley with Zone 7.

He invited journalists to participate actively to ensure accurate and balanced coverage of police activities and reform progress.

​”Journalists are part of the police family. Informed reporting helps the public hold institutions accountable while fostering constructive change,” he said.

​Responding, Ike welcomed the enhancements to the CRU and reiterated the council’s readiness to partner with the police force.

​She commended Edem’s open-door approach and assured that Abuja-based journalists would amplify citizen complaints and monitor CRU developments to ensure that matters raised receive necessary public attention and follow-up.

​She said that a functional CRU provided a crucial opportunity for Nigeria’s media to exercise its watchdog role effectively.

“By publicising how complaints are lodged, tracked, and resolved, the media can help bridge the gap between citizens and the police while keeping policymakers accountable,” she said.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖