IGP Sends Strong Warning To Officers After Kemi Badenoch’s Attack On Police
2 years ago 2 min read
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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned men of the Nigeria Police Force against unlawful arrest and detention of youths in the country.
IGP Egbetokun reportedly issued the warning in a wireless message to all state commands on December 13, 2024, stating that any police officer caught engaging in such activities going forward will face consequences.
The same will apply to the command’s commissioner of police and supervisors of the police officers.
The IGP, who has faced criticism for unlawful arrests and human rights abuses by officers, also ordered immediate end to arbitrary phone searches and confiscation by officers.
According to the wireless message, the Nigeria Police Force is being portrayed negatively as a result of such activities.
The IGP further admitted in the wireless signal that such violations by officers led to the nationwide #EndSARS demonstration against police brutality.
The wireless message was titled: Order and directives: Arbitrary Arrest and Detention and included DTO: 111996/ and Ref: CB:0900/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.TIO/157.
It partly reads, “Arbitrary Arrest X Detention X NIGPOL DCPS ABUJA DIRECTS X HENCEFORTH X THERE SHOULD BE NO UNNECESSARY ARREST AND DETENTION OF YOUTHS X COLLECTING OF PHONES X CHECKING OF PHONES X AT CHECKING POINTS X THESE SHOULD STOP X THIS ATTITUDE IS Portraying THE Nigeria POLICE FORCE IN BAD IMAGE X ALL THESE CULMINATED TO END-SARS PROTEST X DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES X KILLING IN THE PAST X NIGPOL DOPS DIRECTS YOU DESIST FROM SUCH UNLAWFUL ACTS X ANYONE CAUGHT WILL BE DISCIPLINE ALONG WITH COMMANDS COMPOLS/SUPERVISORS AS INGENPOL WILL DEPLOY MONITORING UNITS FOR Enforcement OF THIS DIRECTIVES X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT.”
THE WHISTLER was unable to independently verify the wireless message as Muyiwa Adebayo, the Force Public Relations Officer, did not respond to our phone calls or text messages.
Meanwhile, the IGP’s wireless signal is coming on the heels of allegations against Nigeria police officers by the UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch.
Badenoch had accused the police of corruption and harassment, including theft.
THE WHISTLER reported that in a recent interview with The Free Press, Badenoch described Nigeria as “a poor country” and alleged that the country’s police use guns to intimidate and steal from citizens.
Badenoch said, “the police in Nigeria would rob us. The police stole my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things.”
