The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern warning to police officers, advising them to refrain from engaging in land disputes or civil matters that lack clear criminal elements. During a press conference on Thursday, Egbetokun emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force would no longer act as enforcers for private interests.
He stated, “The Nigeria Police Force is not and will never become an enforcer for private interests. Officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery business, disrupting legally existing occupations, or meddling in civil claims without a demonstrable criminal element.”
Egbetokun further warned that any officer found violating this directive would face disciplinary action.
In addition to addressing land disputes, Egbetokun inaugurated a nationwide training program for police operatives focused on the newly introduced Criminal Database Systems. He described this initiative as the “nervous system of 21st century Nigerian policing.”
The launch, held in Abuja, signifies a shift from reactive policing to proactive, intelligence-led operations based on data analysis and international cooperation. Egbetokun remarked, “This training is more than an exercise; it is a declaration that the NPF has stepped into a new era. Without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals.”
The IGP acknowledged that poor record-keeping and fragmented intelligence have historically plagued Nigerian policing, often leading to stalled prosecutions and eroded public trust. He pledged that the new system would eradicate the era of “forgotten files.”
“With the support of the Federal Government and our partners, we are building a system where every arrest is recorded, every case is documented, and every officer is accountable. No case will vanish into forgotten files. No conviction will disappear into silence,” he stated.
Egbetokun concluded by asserting that the database would enhance domestic law enforcement and align Nigeria with global policing standards.
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