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Tag: Kayode Egbetokun

  • We’ll realign peacekeeping efforts to meet current realities, says IG

    We’ll realign peacekeeping efforts to meet current realities, says IG

    • Over 12,000 deployed for peace missions since Independence
    • Egbetokun seeks sustained reforms, others
    • Police, NIIA partner on security, peacebuilding centre

    Inspector General (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has said the peace-keeping efforts of the Nigeria Police Force will henceforth focus on specialised capabilities.

    Egbetokun spoke against the backdrop of modern peace operations becoming increasingly complex due to asymmetric threats, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and digital insecurity.

    The IGP said this yesterday at a two-day lecture organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), titled: “The Nigeria Police and the Peace Process in Africa.”

    In his keynote address, Egbetokun said focus would be on counterterrorism, cybercrime investigation and intelligence-led policing in line with the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) reforms.

    The police chief reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateral peace efforts, saying the country would continue to play a responsible and professional role in global peace and security.

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    He said: “As the world confronts new uncertainties, the Nigeria Police Force will remain a professional, principled, and reliable pillar within the global peace and security architecture. In the face of shifting threats, fragile states, and increasingly complex security environments, Nigeria will not retreat from responsibility.

    “We will lead with professionalism anchored in international best practice; we will serve with discipline guided by law, ethics, and respect for human dignity; and we will stand, credibly and consistently, on the side of peace, where legitimacy is earned, trust is rebuilt, and stability is sustained.”

    According to the IGP, Nigeria’s credibility in international peacekeeping operations was directly tied to sustained police reform, accountability and respect for human rights at home.

    He said effective peacekeeping policing must reflect legitimacy, discipline and accountability both domestically and internationally, stressing that international confidence in Nigeria Police officers deployed on peace missions depends on reforms at home.

    Egbetokun traced the country’s peacekeeping journey to 1960 when  police officers were deployed for a United Nations mission in Congo (DRC), noting that the Force has  maintained uninterrupted participation in peace support operations under the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

    According to him, over 12,000 Nigeria Police officers have served in peace missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East, since independence, noting that the country’s role has evolved from observer to robust, mandate-driven policing.

    The IGP said police officers have played critical roles in civilian protection, restoration of public order, electoral security, rule of law promotion and institutional capacity building in post conflict societies.

    “Nigeria’s consistent professionalism has strengthened African representation within international policing policy forums, including sustained engagement with the UN Police Division and contributions to evolving peacekeeping doctrine.

    The true impact of peacekeeping is often not captured in reports, but in lived realities, when schools reopen, markets return, and public trust is restored. In such moments, peacekeeping fulfils its highest purpose”, he added.

    Earlier, NIIA’s Director General, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, described Nigeria Police as Africa’s leading peacekeeping police institution, acknowledging its top global ranking at various missions.

    He hailed the police for its many interventions in conflict zones across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, noting that when citizens of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Kosovo, Haiti and East Timor speak well of Nigeria, it is mostly because of the role Nigeria Police played in their countries.

    Prof Osaghae said the institute would collaborate with the Nigeria Police to establish an international centre for peacekeeping and policing, aimed at strengthening capacity, research and training in peace operations.

    “We are very delighted as an institute to be partnering with this police force because what the NIIA does best is to strengthen the capacity for not only understanding the very complex dynamics of the world but also how to address issues of insecurity, peace and prosperity and the things that will channel these things on a global basis and that’s why we thought we should come with the Nigeria Police Force especially because IG Egbetokun has proven to be a man who dreams for the future.

    “He has taken the baton from previous Inspectors General and has taken the Nigeria Police one step further and the international community applauds this…”

    The NIIA boss called for citizens’ support to the police to continue to evolve into the force they dream of.

    Also, the National Cchairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, who chaired the event, called for genuine and impactful police reforms, insisting that the police force was a reflection of the society.

    Chronicling the history of the Nigerian Police, Adebayo urged Nigerians to stop blaming the police for certain lapses.

    He said sustained investment in capacity building, including training, language proficiency and modern equipment, was critical as the Nigeria Police increasingly projects the country’s influence internationally through peacekeeping operations.

    Adebayo also noted that public confidence in the police remained strong, citing high interest in recruitment into the Force, but cautioned that effective policing comes at a cost.

    He said underfunding law enforcement while expecting world-class performance was unrealistic, stressing the need for adequate budgetary support, modern forensic facilities and operational tools to enable the police to deliver on their mandate.

    Also, renowned Professor Adele Jinadu warned against attempts to weaken or fragment the Nigeria Police Force through political interference.

    He said the decision to establish a unified national police force before independence was deliberate and rooted in Nigeria’s history, stressing that failures in policing were largely a consequence of actions by the political class rather than structural defects within the Force.

    Jinadu cautioned against the misuse of informal or regional security outfits, noting that allowing political actors or local interests to exercise policing powers undermines professionalism and the rule of law.

    He also urged police officers to uphold professional standards by resisting political manipulation, including being used to harass opponents or influence electoral processes.

    According to him, professionalism requires a clear distinction between the state and those temporarily in government, adding that the police have a constitutional responsibility to defend the integrity of the state, even when political pressure seeks to compromise it.

  • Cult-suspects after my life, inspector petitions IG, Lagos CP

    Cult-suspects after my life, inspector petitions IG, Lagos CP

    An  Inspector Odekunle Najeem has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, and Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, to save him from an eight-member cult gang led by a Constable.

    In a petition, Najeem, who is  serving at the Lagos State Command Monitoring Unit of the state Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, said the Constable vowed to kill him over the money he lent him.  

    In the petition, he wrote: “I lent him money when he was in need and gave him my motorbike which he is claiming thieves have stolen. I am not demanding replacement of the bike again, but he is insisting I must die. IGP and Lagos CP should save my life from this constable.”

    The petition sighted by The Nation yesterday read in part: “I am appealing to the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to save me from cultists in Mushin who have vowed to kill me. The gang comprising eight members, led by a Police Constable, on Sunday, January 25 made frantic efforts to kill me.’’

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    “Eight of them on three motorbikes on Sunday, January 25, 2026 made frantic efforts to kill me, as they pursued me, carrying pistols, axes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. They carried pistols, axes, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons.

    Though they were unsuccessful in their attempt on my life that night, they broke the windscreen of my car, a grey Toyota Camry, with registration number MUS 181 KA.’’

    Odekunle explained the issue started when the constable in August, last year approached him for financial support to get an accommodation at the police barracks, which he rendered, noting: “When it was clear he was not getting the accommodation again, I said he should transfer the money back as I, too, had needed it. He did and I gave him N50,000 out of the money.”

    Odekunle said: “The constable, alongside seven other cultist-suspects on the said date and about 2155hours, pursued me on three bikes, the constable was on a bike with a rider, while six others mounted the remaining two, as I was driving towards Vono area. I noticed the three motorbikes were trailing me right from Olorunshogo junction where I came out in front of GTBank.

    “ I saw the occupants of two of the two bikes trailing me were wearing masks, but the constable, who rode another bike, which made me see him clearly enough.

    “I didn’t branch to Palm Avenue where I was actually going to buy pieces of meat; I faced Oshodi straight and branched into Vono Road, Mushin and packed there. Just a few seconds after packing, I saw just two of the bikes, with six hooded gang members coming in my direction.

    “They didn’t fire a single shot. Convinced they were actually after me, as they entered the same street where I had parked, I rushed inside my car and drove off, but I was not fast enough, which made them catch up with me, and they smashed my car windscreen. They were carrying axes and pistols.

    “After my escape, I called the constable, but he refused to pick the call. He called me back later, saying he missed my calls, but I told him pointedly he did not miss my calls, but had just refused to pick them. The following day when I saw him pass by the barracks entrance gate, I confronted and accused him. He denied being involved in such and made up excuses. He also said he was not the one I saw on bike among those trailing me the day earlier.

    That same night, I went straight to Olosan Police Division to relay my experience to the Divisional Police Officer, as he, who led the gang, was serving under him. He refused to call him and said I should not worry, noting that I was not the target of any cultist-suspects, and must have mistaken their intention.

    “But I know he was leading those trailing me the night of January 25, 2026. I also know he has some axe to grind with me,” Najeem said.

  • Untidy tack

    Untidy tack

    • Kaduna mass abduction another reminder that the time is ripe for state police

    Last Tuesday, the Nigeria Police confirmed that a mass abduction took place  at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru council area of Kaduna State, after initial hesitation by governing authorities to acknowledge that the incident did occur. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun ordered deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets comprising tactical units, intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue operations and other measures aimed at protecting lives and property and restoring calm to the affected area.

    Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said in a statement that subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources enabled the police leadership to establish that the incident indeed occurred. “The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, activated coordinated security operations, working closely with other security agencies, with a clear focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring calm to the area,” he stated.

     He acknowledged that reports of the abduction had generated widespread concern, and explained initial hesitation by authorities to simply roll with the alarm on need to prevent heightened panic while the facts were yet being verified. According to him, now that checks had confirmed the mass kidnap did occur, security response has been activated to rescue the abductees and restore calm to the affected area.

    No fewer than 177 residents of Kurmin Wali were said to have been abducted last Sunday from a Catholic church, an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation and a Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) church. Some others abducted were said to have escaped the kidnappers’ hold. Reports cited eyewitnesses saying the bandits struck at about 10:00a.m. local time. “Some people tried to run, but they couldn’t because the armed men had surrounded the village,” one eyewitness said, adding: “They (bandits) gathered people together and later forced them to march into the bush.”

    Hundeyin explained that upon receipt of report of the mass abduction, state Governor Uba Sani convened a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council at the Government House in Kaduna. At that meeting, some individuals from the affected local government area allegedly disputed the report despite its having been earlier confirmed by the police, describing it as false. “This created uncertainty and reinforced the need for caution and thorough verification by the police and other security agencies before making conclusive public statements on such a sensitive matter,” the force spokesman said.

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    He clarified comments made by Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu during a media interaction, saying the remarks were aimed at preventing panic while facts were still being verified. “Those remarks, which have since been widely misinterpreted, were not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected,” Hundeyin said.

    On Monday, police commissioner Rabiu had told journalists: “We got a report that 300 people were kidnapped in Kurmin Wali and we sent our officers, soldiers and vigilante. And at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that a kidnap happened.”

    He challenged those claiming that abduction took place to “list the names of the kidnapped victims and other particulars.”

    The police boss’ cynicism was reinforced somewhat by the chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area who said security forces had been sent to the area but found no sign of a kidnapping. “We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of the attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack,” the council chair stated.

    That could well be the refutation by individuals from affected council area that Hundeyin referenced in his statement. But you would wonder why the police got swayed by this denial when, according to the force spokesman, it had earlier confirmed the kidnap report.

    Residents of Kurmin Wali community released a list of 177 persons said to have been abducted in the incident, saying the list was compiled by families and church officials in response to the public challenge by the Kaduna State police commissioner. According to reports, the CP visited the area Tuesday morning on a fact-finding mission following the controversy generated by the incident.

    It was also reported that families had established contact with the kidnappers and were aware of the general location where the victims were being held. “If they want, the escapees are on ground to testify. The location of the others has been established,” a community source was cited saying by this newspaper, in response to initial official skepticism. Sources also noted that security operatives couldn’t move swiftly to pursue the abductor towards rescuing the abductees because of the initial position that no abduction took place.

    The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North, Reverend Joseph Hayab, echoed this view in an interview on Channels Television when he argued that the initial denials slowed down rescue operations. “Look at the time they used in denial. That time they were supposed to be using in pursuing the bandits, but they chose to allow the bandits to have gone far before they are coming to acknowledge that the information we give them is true and remain true,” he said.

    We think there is no question that the response tack by the police was shoddy. In a situation where time is of critical essence, security operatives should have gone in pursuit of the alleged kidnappers first and double-check the doubts later, to prevent allowing the kidnappers a headstart as it seems to now be the case.

    It was momentary living in denial and delayed response by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan that allowed Boko Haram insurgents a comfortable headstart, which eventually complicated rescue efforts in Nigeria’s first experience of mass abductions, namely that of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014.

    Kurmin Wali is a remote Kaduna State community and apparently unreached by routine security surveillance. It was unhelpful that the police debated the Save Our Soul report from community residents while bandits made away with abductees from the community. Having allowed that time lapse in response, the onus lies on the security machinery to pursue and overtake the bandits, and recover all abductees.

    The Kurmin Wali abductions highlight the urgent need to carry through with plans for state police. When a security emergency in a remote corner of the country is left to the centre to process, response time is inevitably delayed and knowledge of terrain peculiarities too foggy to allow for effective and quick counter-measures. Nearly all state governors are reported to have bought into the state police proposal. We urge that everything necessary be done to surmount other procedural delays, so to speed up its implementation. Nigeria is grossly under-policed with the current unitary structure of the force, and state police should largely redress that challenge.

    While awaiting the creation of state police, state governments should invest on formation of informal grassroots outfits that could act as first responders in security emergencies.

  • IG deploys squad to rescue 177 kidnapped in Kaduna

    IG deploys squad to rescue 177 kidnapped in Kaduna

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State following an abduction incident at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in the area.

    The deployment, according to the IGP, includes tactical units, intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and other proactive measures aimed at protecting lives and property and restoring calm to the affected communities.

    In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police confirmed that subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources established that the incident indeed occurred.

    “The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, activated coordinated security operations, working closely with other security agencies, with a clear focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring calm to the area,” Hundeyin said.

    He acknowledged that the reports of the abduction had generated widespread concern, stressing that the safety of citizens remains the Force’s highest priority.

    Hundeyin explained that upon receipt of the abduction report, the Kaduna State Security Council was convened by Governor Uba Sani at the Government House in Kaduna.

    However, during the meeting, some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report, despite its earlier confirmation by the police, describing it as false.

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    “This created uncertainty and reinforced the need for caution and thorough verification by the Police and other security agencies before making conclusive public statements on such a sensitive matter,” he said.

    Clarifying reactions to comments made by the Commissioner of Police during a media interaction, the Force said the remarks were intended to prevent panic while facts were still being verified.

    “Those remarks, which have since been widely misinterpreted, were not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected,” Hundeyin noted.

    Community releases list of 177 victims

    Residents of the Kurmin Wali community released a list of 177 alleged victims said to have been abducted from a Catholic church, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and a Cherubim and Seraphim congregation.

    Community leaders said the list was compiled by families and church officials in response to a public challenge by the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, to those making the claims to provide concrete details.

    Credible community sources confirmed that the CP visited the area yesterday morning on a fact-finding mission following the controversy generated by the incident.

    It was learnt that families have established contact with the kidnappers and are aware of the general location where the victims are being held.

    “If they want, the escapees are on ground to testify. The location of the others has been established,” a community source said, reacting to initial official denial.

    The sources, however, alleged that security operatives have been constrained from acting decisively due to the official position that no abduction occurred.

    They warned that denial at this stage could worsen the situation, recalling past instances where delayed acknowledgement of mass abductions hampered rescue efforts.

    “This was how former President Goodluck Jonathan was initially misled to deny the abduction of the Chibok girls, only to admit it later when valuable time had been lost,” a source said.

    The source added: “We do not want a repeat of that mistake. Those responsible for protecting lives and property should acknowledge the situation and act swiftly.”

    Community members expressed deep disappointment over what they described as the official dismissal of their ordeal, warning that further delay could endanger the lives of the victims.

    Another source said most of the abducted persons were children and youths, who were reportedly marched on foot into the surrounding forests.

  • Anti-kidnapping operations will be extended beyond Kogi, Kwara, says IG

    Anti-kidnapping operations will be extended beyond Kogi, Kwara, says IG

    There are plans to expand ongoing anti-kidnapping operations beyond Kwara and Kogi states to the Northwest and other parts of the country, Inspector-General (IG) Kayode Egbetokun said yesterday.

    The plan according to him, is part of a comprehensive national security strategy.

    Speaking in a monitored chat on a national television,  the IG said that the operations, which initially targeted kidnapping and banditry in Northcentral states of Kwara and Kogi, would be extended to other affected areas, particularly in the Northwest and subsequently, nationwide.

    IG Egbetokun said the planned expansion is in line with a broader security overhaul, following an upsurge in kidnapping incidents.

    The initiative includes intensified operations and intelligence-led policing across multiple regions, with special focus on frontier states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger as well as adjoining zones.

    Egbetokun said the anti-kidnapping initiative is designed to proactively tackle criminal networks, disrupt banditry activities, and restore public confidence in security nationwide.

    He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining coordinated, intelligence-driven operations to curb kidnapping and related crimes under his leadership.

    The police boss assured Nigerians of the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property this year.

    READ ALSO: Why Northern Nigeria must put education first

    He said that safeguarding innocent citizens and preserving law and order remain the core mandate of the police.

    Egbetokun emphasised that the Force will continue to deploy resources in the effective discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.

    He expressed optimism that improved resource allocation will further strengthen police operations across the country, noting that the Nigeria Police Force is determined to deliver enhanced security outcomes in the year ahead.

    According to him, the Police will “do better in 2026,” as renewed support and increased resources are expected to boost operational efficiency and reinforce public safety nationwide.

    Responding to questions on whether he was aware of allegations that the police arrested peaceful protesters in Ekpoma, the IG said the police were often unfairly accused after violent incidents that occurred under the guise of protests.

    He said: “When people have committed criminal offences during protests, we are used to narratives that the police arrested peaceful protesters.”

    The IG added that even in instances where police formations were attacked, officers killed, and weapons stolen, the public still accused the police of targeting innocent demonstrators.

    “Even those who burnt down police stations, murdered policemen, stole our arms during protests, Nigerians will accuse us that we are arresting people who are on peaceful protest,” he said.

    Specifically addressing the Ekpoma incident, Egbetokun maintained that the police had no issue with lawful demonstrations and would not arrest anyone for participating in a peaceful protest.

    “In the case of Ekpoma, of course, the police will not go after anybody who participated in a peaceful protest. We are not against peaceful protest.

    “We have made this clear many times, and we continue to say it, that the police will not stop anybody who comes out for a peaceful protest. If you want to come out for a peaceful protest, what’s our business? We will protect you,” he said.

    The IG stressed that violence, looting and destruction of property, not peaceful protest, were the concern of the police.

    “Peaceful protest is not a challenge to the police. It is those people who want to perpetrate crime, carry out violence, destroy property and loot shops during protests. Those are the ones we have problems with,” he said.

    Egbetokun disclosed that 52 persons were arrested in Ekpoma, insisting they were not peaceful protesters but individuals allegedly involved in criminal activities.

    “In Ekpoma, yes, 52 of them were arrested during the protest, and those 52, from the report coming to me, are those people who were involved in the looting of shops and the vandalism of the palace of the Enogie of Ekpoma.

    “That was the report I have, not the arrest and detention of peaceful protesters. No. That’s the usual wrong narrative that we are used to in Nigeria. So, I debunk that,” he said.

  • Police planning nationwide expansion of anti-kidnapping operations – IGP

    Police planning nationwide expansion of anti-kidnapping operations – IGP

    …reaffirms commitment to public safety to in 2026   

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said there are plans to expand ongoing anti-kidnapping operations beyond Kwara and Kogi states to other parts of the Northwest and across the country as part of a comprehensive national security strategy.

    Speaking in a monitored interview on Channels Television, the IGP disclosed that the operations, which initially targeted kidnapping and banditry in Kwara and Kogi, would be extended to other affected areas, particularly in the Northwest, and subsequently nationwide.

    IGP said the planned expansion is in line with a broader security overhaul following a surge in kidnapping incidents.

    The initiative includes intensified operations and intelligence-led policing across multiple regions, with special focus on frontier states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger, as well as adjoining zones.

    Egbetokun said the anti-kidnapping initiative is designed to proactively tackle criminal networks, disrupt banditry activities, and restore public confidence in security nationwide.

    He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining coordinated, intelligence-driven operations to curb kidnapping and related crimes under his leadership.

    The police boss also assured Nigerians of the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property in 2026.

    He said safeguarding innocent citizens and preserving law and order remain the core mandate of the Police.

    Egbetokun emphasized that the Force will continue to deploy all available human and material resources to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

    He expressed optimism that improved resource allocation will further strengthen police operations across the country, noting that the Nigeria Police Force is determined to deliver enhanced security outcomes in the year ahead.

    According to him, the Police will “do better in 2026,” as renewed support and increased resources are expected to boost operational efficiency and reinforce public safety nationwide.

    Responding to questions on whether he was aware of allegations that the police arrested peaceful protesters in Ekpoma, the IGP said the police were often unfairly accused after violent incidents that occurred under the guise of protests.

    “When people have committed criminal offences during protests, we are used to narratives that the police arrested peaceful protesters,” Egbetokun said. 

    He added that even in instances where police formations were attacked, officers killed, and weapons stolen, the public still accused the police of targeting innocent demonstrators.

    “Even those who burnt down police stations, murdered policemen, stole our arms during protests, Nigerians will accuse us that we are arresting people who are on peaceful protest,” he said.

    Addressing the Ekpoma incident specifically, Egbetokun maintained that the police had no issue with lawful demonstrations and would not arrest anyone for participating in a peaceful protest.

    “In the case of Ekpoma, of course, the police will not go after anybody who participated in a peaceful protest. We are not against peaceful protest.

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    “We have made this clear many times, and we continue to say it, that the police will not stop anybody who comes out for a peaceful protest. If you want to come out for a peaceful protest, what’s our business? We will protect you,” he said.

    The IG stressed that violence, looting and destruction of property, not peaceful protest, were the concern of the police.

    “Peaceful protest is not a challenge to the police. It is those people who want to perpetrate crime, carry out violence, destroy property and loot shops during protests. Those are the ones we have problems with,” he said.

    Egbetokun disclosed that 52 persons were arrested in Ekpoma, insisting they were not peaceful protesters but individuals allegedly involved in criminal activities.

    “In Ekpoma, yes, 52 of them were arrested during the protest, and those 52, from the report coming to me, are those people who were involved in the looting of shops and the vandalizing of the palace of the Enogie of Ekpoma.

    “That was the report I have, not the arrest and detention of peaceful protesters. No. That’s the usual wrong narrative that we are used to in Nigeria. So, I debunk that,” he said.

  • Lawyer petitions IGP over assault, intimidation of junior colleague by police DPO in Ondo

    Lawyer petitions IGP over assault, intimidation of junior colleague by police DPO in Ondo

    A human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other top police authorities over alleged assault, intimidation, and obstruction of justice by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ore Division in Ondo State, Moses Adeduro, during the lawful discharge of a lawyer’s professional duties.

    In separate petitions on Friday addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and other relevant oversight bodies, Temokun accused the DPO of abuse of office and conduct unbecoming of a senior law enforcement officer.

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    The petition, signed by Tope Temokun, Esq., Principal Counsel of the firm, arose from an incident said to have occurred on January 8, 2026, when one of the firm’s lawyers, Adedotun Emmanuel Adegoroye, Esq., was allegedly assaulted and intimidated at the Ore Divisional Police Headquarters while representing a client.

    According to the law firm, Adegoroye had accompanied one Mrs. Stella Oluwasegun, Managing Director of Niret Marketing Product Company Limited, to the Ore Police Station to report a case of stealing and criminal conversion of company goods valued at about N20.4 million.

    The firm said the complaint followed the discovery that some employees of the company, allegedly acting in concert with a supplier’s staff and a driver, had unlawfully removed and sold company goods.

  • IG hosts nine DCPs after completing NIPSS’ course

    IG hosts nine DCPs after completing NIPSS’ course

    • Idris Abdulsalam

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has received nine Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) who completed the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47/2025 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.

    The programme, which started in March last year, concluded on December 13, last year, after several months of intensive training aimed at enhancing leadership, policy formulation, and strategic management skills among senior police officers.

    During the visit, the officers presented a detailed report of their coursework and key recommendations to the IGP, highlighting insights and strategies that could improve operational efficiency and security management within the NPF.

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    Egbetokun congratulated the officers on their accomplishment, describing the completion of the course as a testament to their dedication and professionalism.

    The IGP advised the participants to integrate the knowledge and experiences they gained from the programme into their daily duties.

    He noted that the application of such insights would strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the nation’s police force.

    Egbetokun assured the participants that the Force remained committed to continuous capacity building for officers at all levels to meet evolving security challenges and enhance service delivery to the public.

  • Organisation condemns smear campaign against IG

    Organisation condemns smear campaign against IG

    •Police chief get kudos for achievements

    Civil society organisation, Advocates for Good Governance, has lauded the Police for ‘notable achievements’ in 2025, while condemning sustained smear campaigns and alleged attempts to force Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, out of office.

    The group said the police, under Egbetokun’s leadership, recorded progress in professionalism, discipline, and internal reforms, despite persistent attacks at discrediting it and its leadership.

    In a statement yesterday by Abe Kolawole, Publicity secretary and Ibrahim Ahmed, president general, the organisation warned that media attacks and online campaigns against the Police chief were part of efforts by disgruntled elements to derail reforms in the Police.

    “These smear campaigns and attempts to get the IG out of office are dangerous to national security,” it said. “They are driven by individuals who lost out under the reform-oriented leadership and are bent on destabilising the Police.”

    The group noted that Egbetokun’s enforcement of rules on retirement age, years of service, promotions, and postings has blocked entrenched interests that previously thrived on impunity, triggering backlash against his leadership.

    It quoted Danjuma Lamido as saying the activities appeared to be sponsored efforts to blackmail the IG rather than strengthen press freedom through constructive engagement.

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    “It is difficult to ignore the pattern. Despite dialogue, reforms, and open-door policies, the posture of some groups mirrors that of misguided elements intent on forcing the IG out of office. If that is the agenda, it should be stated openly, not cloaked in sanctimonious statements,” Lamido said.

    Lauding the police performance, the group cited improved accountability, firmer discipline among officers, and a renewed focus on professionalism under the IG.

    It called on Nigerians to rally behind the Police and support reforms, stressing that weakening the leadership through smear campaigns would only embolden criminal elements.

    “We urge the public to support the police and reject attempts to undermine the IG. The focus should be on strengthening the Police, not tearing it down for selfish reasons,” the group added.

    The organisation appealed to the media to uphold ethical standards and avoid being used as platforms for unverified allegations, noting attacks on the police could erode public trust in security institutions.

    It reaffirmed its commitment to supporting reforms and urged stakeholders to prioritise national interest over personal or political agenda.

  • Getting it right

    Getting it right

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun ordered the IGP Monitoring Unit and Commissioners of Police X-Squads to ensure strict monitoring and compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s order to withdraw officers protecting Very Important Persons (VIPs) to the detriment of general security.

     They are to arrest any officer found escorting VIPs. Egbetokun said over 11, 566 officers will return to “frontline duties” as a result of the presidential directive, adding that “policing capacity will improve.”

    There is no question that the enforcement of Tinubu’s directive is crucial. The challenge of implementation demands political will and professional resolve.  

    Notably, a retired deputy inspector general of police, Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, argued that the police force needs urgent reforms for the successful implementation of the President’s directive. He stated that some IGPs had issued the same order in the past but lacked the structural support to enforce it.

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    Ibrahim further noted that VIP protection “has become an economy” in the force, describing it as a “cash cow” that generates revenue streams for officers, making the structure extremely resistant to reform. He listed the beneficiaries of such protection, including politicians, businessmen, entertainers, expatriates, religious figures, malls, banks and private individuals “seeking status.”

     His deep insider knowledge of police operations makes his observations and recommendations noteworthy and useful. Apart from the necessary political will, he suggested steps for the success of the policy. He advised the authorities to: Publish a list of withdrawn officers; Deploy them to stations, patrols and intelligence units; Establish an NSCDC-based VIP Protection Service; Ban direct escort requests to the IGP or Commissioners of Police; Digitise all VIP security requests.

    Other suggestions are: Introduce penalties for illegal escorts; Reward officers returning to active policing; Conduct surprise audits of formations; Launch a national policing-reform communication campaign; Use community policing to fill temporary gaps.

    These call for a thoroughgoing institutional overhaul: dismantling the old system; building the new system; and sustaining the change.

    It is important to ensure the implementation of the presidential order. But, more importantly, it is necessary to envision and emplace a reformed police force.

    It remains to be seen whether the President’s intervention will make a difference this time around. The authorities must be open to unlearning the old, ineffective ways, and learning new approaches to the country’s security crisis.