The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is currently in South Africa for the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference, a high-level forum aimed at strengthening international collaboration in tackling transnational crime and enhancing global law enforcement cooperation.

The conference, which has drawn more than 200 Police Chiefs and security leaders from 56 countries, is focusing on contemporary security challenges, intelligence-sharing frameworks, and practical strategies for cross-border policing.

IGP Egbetokun is scheduled to deliver a presentation on “Cattle Theft in West Africa: A Conduit for Terrorism and CBRNE Threats”, where he will highlight the link between organized crime, terrorism financing, and emerging chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats in the sub-region.

On the sidelines, the IGP is also holding bilateral meetings with the INTERPOL President, Major General Naser Alraisi, and the INTERPOL Secretary General, Mr. Valdecy Urquiza, to deepen operational partnerships, strengthen intelligence exchange, and reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global security cooperation.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to remaining an active and dependable partner in international law enforcement efforts while continuing to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians at home and abroad.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has officially commenced the transition from the traditional Annual Performance Evaluation Reports (APER) to the modern Performance Management System (PMS), aimed at fostering accountability, transparency, and efficiency in public service.

According to a press release signed by the PSC Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani declaring open a two-day training programme for PSC staff on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd.), described the APER system as “obsolete and grossly defective,” stressing that it had long failed to deliver credible assessments of public servants.

According to Argungu, the APER framework encouraged manipulation, favouritism, and deception, which ultimately undermined competence and excellence in the public service. He expressed confidence that the PMS would address these shortcomings by providing a more practical and reliable tool for staff evaluation.

He urged staff participating in the training to take the exercise seriously, seek clarifications where necessary, and ensure maximum participation, noting that the Commission views the reform as a critical step toward institutional growth. He also commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for deploying trainers to facilitate the programme.

In his welcome remarks, the PSC Director of Human Resource Management, Aminu Malumfashi, highlighted the limitations of the old APER system, describing it as largely end-of-year focused, paper-based, and incapable of capturing staff contributions, challenges, and developmental needs throughout the year.

Malumfashi explained that the PMS represents a “transformational shift” as it emphasizes continuous interaction between supervisors and subordinates, clear goal-setting, regular feedback, performance tracking, documentation, capacity building, and merit-based recognition.

“PMS is not just a technical framework; it is a culture shift. It aligns individual performance with organizational goals, ensures fairness and transparency in evaluations, and ultimately improves service delivery to Nigerians,” he stated.

The training programme will cover critical topics including: *Understanding MDAs Performance Management System (MPMS), Job Objectives Setting, Key Result Areas (KRAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as well as Dynamics of Cascading MDAs Deliverables to All Levels of Accountability (Hands-On).*

The Integrity Youth Alliance has strongly condemned Amnesty International for calling on the Federal Government to drop criminal charges against African Action Congress (AAC) Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement signed by its National Spokesperson, Danjuma Lamido, the group described Amnesty International’s position as “reckless and misguided,” insisting that Sowore is not facing politically motivated charges but genuine criminal cases instituted in line with Nigerian laws.

According to the Alliance, the charges against Sowore, which include forgery, criminal defamation, and the unlawful publication of confidential government documents, are grave offences that cannot be trivialized as political persecution.

“The Nigerian authorities will not terminate these legal processes or succumb to foreign propaganda aimed at emboldening lawlessness. Sowore must face the consequences of his utterances and actions, as freedom of expression does not amount to a license for disinformation, blackmail, or character assassination,” the statement read.

The group further dismissed claims that Sowore was tortured or ill-treated in custody, describing such allegations as “stage-managed drama” designed to mislead the public. It also criticized Sowore for what it termed “reckless accusations” against the Inspector General of Police, including allegations of forgery and defamatory publications.

The Integrity Youth Alliance stressed that the Federal Government is not out to stifle civic space, adding that while citizens are free to express opinions, no one should exploit activism or politics to undermine state institutions through unlawful acts.

The group, therefore, urged Amnesty International to “retrace its steps” and stop encouraging lawlessness by backing Sowore’s excesses, while calling on the AAC Presidential candidate to respect the rule of law and submit himself to justice.

The Ndigbo Young Professionals has dismissed as baseless the recent statement by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), which alleged that the Nigeria Police Force has diverted its institutional energy into targeting “perceived regime critics” in the ongoing investigation of Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement signed by Ambassador Chukwuemeka Chinonso, the group described RULAAC’s position as “reckless, misleading, and deliberately designed to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force.”

It noted that the recent directive of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordering six commercial banks to provide account details linked to Sowore, was a lawful judicial process anchored on due process and constitutional authority.

“The Nigeria Police, through the courts, has the legal power to compel banks and other financial institutions to release account records of individuals under investigation. This is a global standard practice and a vital tool in combating terrorism financing, money laundering, and other fraudulent activities,” the statement read.

The group stressed that the police remain constitutionally empowered to investigate financial crimes and terrorism-related offences, dismissing RULAAC’s suggestion that such investigations amount to distractions as “mischievous” and “ignorant of the multifaceted capacity of the police.”

According to the group, the Nigeria Police has continued to demonstrate resilience in tackling violent crimes, kidnapping, banditry, and cybercrime while also pursuing financial crime investigations.

“The Police cannot and will not be distracted by sponsored statements from groups like RULAAC whose motives are questionable. Sowore’s activities call for legitimate scrutiny, and his trial is not, and will never be, a self-inflicted distraction for the Nigeria Police,” Chinonso stated.

The Ndigbo Young Professionals reaffirmed its support for the Nigeria Police Force, urging it to continue discharging its constitutional responsibilities without fear or favour.