Rita Odafe
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has mandated an end to the arbitrary arrests, detentions, and intrusive phone checks of young individuals by police throughout Nigeria.
He cautioned that officers who violate these guidelines, along with their supervisors, will be severely penalized.
This directive, communicated via a wireless message on December 13, 2024, was dispatched to all state police commands. It underscores the urgent need to address human rights abuses and wrongful practices that have damaged the Nigeria Police Force’s image.
The police leadership noted that unchecked misconduct could trigger public discontent, warning that such scenarios should be avoided to prevent a recurrence of the violent protests seen in 2020.
The message, signed by the Operations Department at Force Headquarters, has been shared with media sources like PidomNigeria.
Egbetokun stated that police commissioners and the supervisors of any commands involved in these actions would also be held accountable alongside the offending officers.
This communication, marked with DTO: 111996/ and Ref: CB:0900/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.TIO/157, carries the title: Order and Directives: Arbitrary Arrest and Detention.
It included remarks indicating: “There will be no more unjustified arrests and detentions of youths, including phone checks at checkpoints. Such practices damage the image of the Nigeria Police Force and contributed to the #EndSARS protests leading to destruction and loss of life. The Nigeria Police Department strictly directs that you refrain from these illegal actions. Offenders will face disciplinary actions alongside their command supervisors, as monitoring units will be deployed to enforce these directives. It is critical to treat this matter with utmost seriousness.”
