By Adewole Kehinde
“Leading with integrity and empathy requires vision and a connection to your deepest” Karla McLaren
I came across a tweet by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, titled “THE PRICE OF COMPROMISE: HOW POLITICAL LOYALTY IS DESTROYING THE INTEGRITY OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE by one Hon. Abubakar MG.
I quite disagree with the article because it was written totally out of hatred for the Nigeria police. How can a reasonable human being say, “The Nigeria Police Force, once conceived with this noble mission, is now a shadow of its intended purpose? The integrity of the institution has been compromised by a growing and dangerous trend—the shifting loyalty of police officers from the constitution to political powerbrokers. This betrayal has come at an enormous cost, shaking public confidence, deepening injustice, and weakening the very foundation of our democracy.
The Nigeria police, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, still maintained its noble mission of building a professionally competent, service-driven, and rule-of-law compliant force, supporting government initiatives for economic recovery, growth, and social development, and embracing technology, intelligence-led policing, and community engagement.
It is absolutely false that the integrity of the Nigeria police has been compromised by a growing and dangerous trend. I can categorically say that IGP Kayode Egbetokun is focused on maintaining the integrity of the Nigeria Police through various initiatives, including emphasising professionalism, accountability, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption, while also prioritising human rights and community engagement.
Nigeria police under the present IGP have built solid public confidence, deepened justice, and strengthened the very foundation of our democracy against the biased article by Abubakar MG.
The author even claimed that “Rather than serve the people, the police now serve the interests of the elite. Rather than uphold justice, they enforce political agendas. This transformation has left a bitter taste in the mouths of millions of Nigerians, who now view the police not as protectors but as threats to their freedoms. The above fictitious statement is mischievous, of course.
The Nigeria police, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, have continued to serve the people, irrespective of status in the society. Egbetokun has never enforced political agendas, so therefore, there can’t be a bitter taste in the mouths of millions of Nigerians.
It is not true that corruption within the force is no longer limited to roadside extortion or abuse of power in low-level interactions. It has taken a more sophisticated and dangerous form—becoming a strategic tool for suppressing dissent, rigging elections, silencing the opposition, and shielding the politically connected from accountability.
I recall that on 26th August 2023, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, warned police officers in the country not to dent the image of the police force with corruption.
Egbetokun gave the warning in Akure, the Ondo state capital, while decorating 224 newly promoted officers of the Police Command in Ondo State.
Speaking through the now-former Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Ebong Ebong, Zone 17, the IG promised that hard work would be rewarded while erring officers wouldn’t go unpunished.
Also, on the 23rd of October 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reiterated the Force’s zero tolerance for extortion, impunity, and corruption from its officers.
Egbetokun said this on Wednesday while speaking at the commissioning and public presentation of the Rivers State Police Command’s Complaint Response Unit office at the command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
On the 19th of October 2024, IGP Kayode Egbetokun voiced strong concerns over alleged cases of extortion and high-handedness by certain officers within the Nigeria Police Force.
The IGP condemned the actions of the erring officers and vowed to take decisive measures against them during a recent conference with senior police officers in Abuja.
He urged AIGs, CPs, and other senior officers to ensure proper oversight of their subordinates.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining the highest professional standards in the conduct of police duties.
As part of efforts to curb misconduct, the IGP directed various disciplinary units, including the IGP X-Squad, Monitoring Unit, and Complaint Response Unit (CRU), to conduct routine checks on officers nationwide.
He warned that officers found guilty of corruption or misconduct would face strict punishment and that supervisory officers would not be exempt from responsibility if their subordinates were involved in unethical practices.
In addition, IGP Egbetokun issued a stern warning to officers engaging in the unethical practice of name-dropping senior officials to extort money from the public.
He emphasised that any officer found guilty of using his name or that of other senior officers for fraudulent purposes would face severe disciplinary action.
Egbetokun reiterated the force’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption and misconduct.
The IGP also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any attempts to exploit his name for fraudulent activities, underscoring the role of citizens in ensuring accountability within the police force.
Also, on the 8th of November 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, condemned the spate of extortion allegations against some officers of the force in various areas across the country.
He specifically referenced a recent case involving officers from the Zone 16 Zonal Headquarters in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Egbetokun, maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any act of corruption and police misconduct. The Force takes every allegation of extortion and abuse of power extremely seriously.”
“The IGP has, however, reassured the general public that the Force will continue to investigate all allegations levelled against erring officers thoroughly,” Adejobi said.
The IGP has ordered severe punishments for officers found guilty of misconduct.
With the above references on the anti-corruption initiative of IGP Egbetokun, I wonder why a sane human being would say, “The badge, once a symbol of honour and duty, has become a pass for lawlessness when worn in allegiance to power rather than to principle.”
Another claim by the author is that the credibility of the police force suffers further damage every election season. Reports of officers aiding in ballot box snatching, intimidating voters, and providing cover for political thugs have become the norm; this is mischievous.
All the off-cycle elections under IGP Kayode Egbetokun have been clean, acceptable, and credible, as he ensured that comprehensive security measures to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process during and after all the off-cycle elections were put in place.
For those who know Egbetokun very well, he has never played selective justice. The arrest of Omoyele Sowore is based on his continuous referring to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as “illegal IGP,” an offence contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and punishable under section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.
Sowore was never arrested for leading peaceful protests; Hon. Abubakar MG seriously goofed.
It is not true that the Nigeria police are vulnerable to political manipulation. The present structure does not allow politicians to influence policing decisions for personal or partisan gain. The Nigeria Police Force is governed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly Section 214, which establishes the NPF and outlines its responsibilities.
It is a pure lie that officers are poorly paid and poorly prepared to uphold the principles of justice in a modern democracy. The IGP has not departed from his commitment to enhancing the welfare of police officers by redeveloping deteriorating barracks nationwide. He has also created a conducive living environment, which is crucial for effective policing.
It is on record that on 18th January 2025, the IGP approved the distribution of new kits and uniforms to personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in other ranks as part of ongoing efforts to improve officers’ welfare and enhance professionalism.
The initiative aligns with the IGP’s vision to foster better working conditions and elevate the standards of professionalism within the force.
He also expressed optimism that the implementation of the 2025 budget would enable additional welfare-focused projects to support officers in effectively discharging their duties.
There is no doubt that the Nigeria Police Force remained dedicated to maintaining a well-equipped and motivated workforce for the safety and security of all Nigerians under IGP Egbetokun.
There is absolute accountability in the Force, as officers implicated in electoral violence, extortion, or human rights abuses are professionally investigated and prosecuted.
Kudos must be given to the Police Service Commission for carrying out its oversight independently with all the political will to hold senior officers accountable.
The Nigerian Police Force is never at a crossroads. The current reforms under IGP Egbetokun have made the Nigeria police a force that truly serves and protects life and property.
In conclusion, the cost of political loyalty in policing is never too high. It is not paid in the blood of innocent citizens, neither in the loss of public trust nor in the collapse of institutions.
It is time to stop mischievous and biased publication, all with the aim of bringing down the professionalism reform under the renewed hope administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters. 08166240846 kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole
