The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has called for stronger parental guidance and closer cooperation between families, communities and security agencies, saying the responsibility for building a safer society extends beyond the police.

Disu made the call in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during the launch of The Origin of Police Women in Nigeria, a book written by 96-year-old retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dame Stella O. Okuyiga.

The event brought together government officials, serving and retired police officers, traditional rulers, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to celebrate the contributions of women who helped shape the history of policing in Nigeria.

Okuyiga, who hails from Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, was among the first 20 women recruited into the Nigeria Police Force in 1955. She retired in 1996 after a career spanning more than four decades, leaving behind a record of experiences that she hopes will educate and inspire future generations.

Disu described the publication as a celebration of courage, resilience and service. He said the pioneering female officers demonstrated that gender should not prevent women from pursuing their ambitions, despite the limited opportunities available to them when they joined the Force.

The police chief also recalled meeting Okuyiga while serving as Rivers State Commissioner of Police, when she expressed her desire to publish her work. He said supporting the book’s publication fulfilled a promise he had made to help preserve her experiences and contributions to the institution.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, commended the retired officer for documenting an important part of the country’s policing history. Okuyiga expressed delight that her story would endure through the book, which she hopes will reach libraries and readers around the world.