Egbetokun, Healing A Broken Nigeria Police With Personal Touch, by Adewole Kehinde

IGP Kayode Egbetokun continues to live up to his reputation as an officer who leads from the front since he was appointed on 19th June 2023 as Inspector General of Police. 

Since his appointment, one of his priorities has been internal security. No wonder he enumerated the consequences of internal security challenges as human rights violations and humanitarian crises; socioeconomic disruption and poverty; political instability and governance crises; displacement and refugee crises; and economic losses and development setbacks recently at the University of Ibadan.

Egbetokun said internal security challenges in Nigeria have profound and multifaceted consequences that impact human rights, socioeconomic development, political stability, and governance effectiveness.

He stated that addressing these consequences requires comprehensive strategies that prioritize peacebuilding, conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development. 

Since his assumption of the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force, IGP Egbetokun said the Nigeria Police had adopted three strategic policing methods to counter security challenges in Nigeria. 

He listed the strategies as confrontation, suppression, and accommodation.

He also said his tenure had keyed into the accommodating policing model as a deliberate policy to conform to the tenets and global standard of democratic policing in Nigeria. 

He added that the Nigeria Police works closely with the military and other security agencies to coordinate efforts and ensure a unified response to the complex security challenges of violent crimes, non-violent offences, and security challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, and communal violence.

According to the Inspector General of Police, while progress has been made in implementing reforms, challenges and implementation gaps persist, requiring sustained political commitment, institutional reforms, and stakeholder engagement to drive meaningful change within the Nigeria Police itself.

He further said that despite the numerous challenges faced by the Nigeria Police Force in managing internal security during crises, there have been notable achievements that demonstrate the potential and resilience of the Force.

He reiterated that the Nigeria Police has successfully executed various operations to combat terrorism, armed robbery, and kidnapping, thereby ensuring the safety of many communities. 

He noted that the Nigeria Police has also made strides in adopting modern technology and intelligence-gathering techniques, which have improved its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to security threats, adding that the implementation of community policing initiatives has fostered better collaboration between the Police and local communities, enhancing trust and cooperation.

He stated that these achievements, though often overshadowed by the larger systemic issues, highlight the capacity of the Nigeria Police to positively impact internal security when adequately supported and reformed.

IGP Egbetokun, therefore, urged the Nigerian government to sustain its commitment to ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police and allocate sufficient budgetary resources to the police force to address equipment needs, improve infrastructure, and enhance training programs.

He also recommended that community policing initiatives should be expanded and institutionalized across all states in Nigeria, and public awareness campaigns and civil education initiatives conducted to educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities.

IGP Egbetokun also advised the Nigerian government to take decisive action to combat corruption and impunity within the Nigeria Police.

He said that by implementing these recommendations, Nigeria can strengthen its internal security apparatus, enhance public safety, and promote sustainable peace and development across the country. 

Aside from the internal security focus, the IGP has made significant progress over the past year since he assumed office as the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police.

During the past twelve months, the Force has faced considerable challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

Despite these threats, the Nigeria Police Force has remained resilient and dedicated to its mandate.

This is where the IGP commended officers for their hard work and dedication, emphasizing the positive results achieved through capacity building, service improvements, and strengthened relationships with sister services and the public.

IGP Egbetokun acknowledged the vital achievements of his administration in one year, including the presentation of a total of ₦9.85 billion to families of deceased officers under the Group Life Assurance Scheme.

Other achievements are the IGP Family Welfare Scheme, the declaration of April 7 as National Police Day by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the promotion of the inaugural Police Commendation and Awards Ceremony, and the promotion of 33,867 officers based on merit, competence, and available vacancies.

Also is the advancement of infrastructural development, which will culminate in the commissioning of some projects such as the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, the International Conference Centre, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), the Force Intelligence Building, the Force Public Relations School, the Police Intelligence School located in Share, Kwara State, Evidence/Exhibits Storage facilities, and newly acquired operational assets including vehicles, APCs, drones, gun trucks, etc.

In the past year, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested 35,496 suspects for their participation in various crimes, rescued 1,907 kidnapped victims, and recovered 2,750 firearms, 22,569 ammunition, and 1,540 vehicles nationwide, while the Legal/Prosecutions Section has successfully prosecuted 29,052 criminal cases, securing 16,200 convictions.

I must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing IGP Kayode Egbetokun as IGP, as well as his support and commitment towards the Nigeria Police. 

IGP Kayode Egbetokun is an IGP who doesn’t think about collecting returns before achieving any achievements and who has zero tolerance for corruption.

IGP Egbetokun’s extraordinary performance under pressure and his compassion, integrity, dedication, and personal-touch leadership style in serving the Nigeria Police have resulted in creating a good image for the Nigeria Police today.

Adewole Kehinde is a Public Affairs Analyst based in Abuja. 08166240846. kennyadewole@gmail.com