Sowore’s Blackmail Politics Vs The Reality Of IGP Egbetokun’s Leadership -By Kelvin Adegbenga

Omoyele Sowore’s latest Facebook outburst against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, is yet another reminder of a familiar pattern: a serially unsuccessful presidential candidate who has repeatedly failed at the ballot box now seeks relevance through blackmail, theatrics, and deliberate misinformation.

Having failed to convince Nigerians with ideas, Sowore has chosen to peddle falsehoods against institutions and individuals who are visibly working to strengthen the Nigerian state.

Let it be stated clearly and unequivocally: IGP Kayode Egbetokun is not retired. Under the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), the IGP is statutorily entitled to a four-year tenure, and by law, Egbetokun will retire in October 2027.

No amount of online blackmail, propaganda, or emotional ranting can rewrite an act of the National Assembly. The tenure of the IGP is sacrosanct, and personal attacks will not shorten it by a single day.

Beyond the legality of his office, the substance of Egbetokun’s leadership stands in stark contrast to Sowore’s claims. Since assuming office, the morale within the Nigeria Police Force has significantly improved.

Officers are more motivated, professionalism is increasingly emphasised, and internal discipline and accountability mechanisms are being strengthened. This is not conjecture; it is evident in the renewed confidence within the Force.

Contrary to Sowore’s narrative, IGP Egbetokun has not reduced the Nigeria Police Force to a trivialised caricature, nor has he run it into the ground. On the contrary, the Force is undergoing gradual but visible institutional rebuilding.

Public trust in the police has grown, and one of the clearest indicators of this renewed confidence is the increasing number of Nigerian youths willingly applying to join the Nigeria Police Force. Young Nigerians do not queue up for institutions they believe are irredeemably broken. They join institutions they see as reforming, relevant, and capable of offering dignity and purpose.

Professionalism has increasingly become the order of the day under Egbetokun’s watch. Operational responses are better coordinated, communication is more structured, and there is a conscious effort to balance public information with security imperatives.

This is precisely where Sowore’s reckless commentary falls apart.

On the issue of the Kajuru church abductions, it is important to set the record straight. At no time did the Nigeria Police Force deny that the incident occurred. As clearly explained by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report that had earlier been confirmed by the police and described it as false.

This contradiction created uncertainty and reinforced the need for caution and thorough verification before making conclusive public statements on such a sensitive security matter.

Security information is not the same as the social media misinformation that Sowore habitually posts. Lives are at stake. In this context, comments made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were not a denial of the incident.

They were a measured and responsible response aimed at preventing unnecessary panic while facts were being verified from the field, including the identities and number of those affected.

Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources confirmed that the incident did occur. In response, the Nigeria Police Force 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.

That is how a responsible security institution behaves, not through impulsive declarations, but through careful verification and decisive action.

Sadly, Sowore, driven by what can only be described as an embittered soul, chooses to close his eyes to these realities. As usual, he ignores the tangible achievements and improvements within the Nigeria Police Force under Egbetokun’s leadership, preferring instead to indulge in blackmail and performative outrage.

This pattern has defined his public life: loud accusations, little substance, and zero responsibility.

At some point, Sowore must grow up to his age and begin to tell the truth consistently. Nigeria’s security challenges are too serious to be reduced to personal vendettas and Facebook theatrics.

Personal attacks on IGP Kayode Egbetokun will not weaken the Police Force, will not erase the reforms underway, and will certainly not truncate the IGP’s lawful tenure.

The law is clear. The facts are clear. And Nigerians are increasingly discerning. No amount of noise can drown out the truth.

Kelvin Adegbenga writes from Wuse 2, Abuja. Email: kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com