IG condemns police extortion, misconduct, orders action against offenders
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed strong concerns over reports of extortion and high-handedness by some members of the Nigeria Police Force.
Egbetokun’s condemnation came during a recent address to senior police officers at the IGP’s Conference, held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan International Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Friday.
Egbetokun emphasised the need for police officers to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
“We must ensure that our officers uphold their duties with integrity and professionalism. Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face the full wrath of the law,” he said, addressing Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and other heads of formations present at the event.
In a bid to tackle these unethical practices, the IGP ordered specialised units, including the IGP X-Squad, the Monitoring Unit, and the Complaint Response Unit, to intensify their oversight functions.
“Routine checks will be conducted on officers across the country, and disciplinary actions will be taken against any officer found guilty of misconduct. Supervisory officers who fail in their duties will also be held accountable,” the IGP warned.
Egbetokun also issued a stern caution to officers involved in extortion through the unethical use of senior officers’ names, including his own, to exploit unsuspecting members of the public.
“Let me make this clear: any officer caught using my name or the name of any senior officer to extort the public will face severe consequences. The leadership of the Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate any form of corruption,” the IGP declared.
He also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any attempts to exploit his name for fraudulent activities.
He highlighted the importance of citizen cooperation in ensuring a corruption-free police force, saying, “The public plays a critical role in policing. We need your support to identify and report officers who are involved in unethical practices.”
