The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a directive banning arbitrary arrests, harassment of youths, and the checking of mobile phones by police officers across the country.
The directive follows rising concerns over police misconduct, particularly after recent comments by the United Kingdom opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch, on police abuses in Nigeria.
It was gathered that the directive was sent to all state police commands, emphasizing the need to curb human rights violations and restore the Nigeria Police Force’s reputation.
The document, signed by the Department of Operations at the Force Headquarters, warned that erring officers and their supervisors would face severe penalties if the unlawful practices continued.
The memo, which has been circulating on social media and was sighted by The Nation, also referenced the 2020 #EndSARS protests as a stark reminder of the consequences of police misconduct.
The protests, fueled by widespread grievances over police brutality, resulted in significant destruction, loss of lives, and a severe erosion of public trust in law enforcement.
The warning was contained in a police wireless message with DTO: 111996/ and Ref: CB:0900/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.TIO/157, titled: Order and directives: Arbitrary Arrest and Detention’, dated December 13, 2024, and addressed to all the state commands.
In the letter signed by the Department of Operations for the Force Headquarters, Egbetokun stated that such impunity and unlawful attitudes are portraying the Nigeria Police Force in bad light.
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He warned that going forward, any police personnel caught indulging in the prohibited acts would be punished including the Commissioner of Police of the command and their supervisors.
It partly read, “Arbitrary Arrest, Detention: NIGPOL DCPS Abuja Directs: Henceforth there should be no unnecessary arrest and detention of youths, collecting of phones, checking of phones, at checking points.
“These should stop. This attitude is portraying the Nigeria Police Force in a bad image. All these culminated in End-SARs protests; destroying of properties, and killings in the past.
“NIGPOL DOPS directs you to desist from such unlawful acts. Anyone caught will be disciplined along with Commands ComPols/Supervisors as INGENPOL will deploy monitoring units for enforcement of these directives. Treat it as very important.”
It further emphasised that command commissioners and supervisors would be held accountable for any violations, with monitoring units set to enforce compliance.
