By Olalekan Johnson
In any society striving for law and order, the police institution occupies a very important place. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), under the current leadership of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun PhD NRM, has undergone significant reforms aimed at repositioning the force into a modern, people-oriented law enforcement agency. However, amid the transformative strides recorded under IGP Egbetokun’s watch, a troubling and deliberate campaign of vilification has persisted, driven primarily by Sahara Reporters, a media platform led by one Mr Omoyele Sowore.
Sahara Reporters and its publisher have become a relentless voice of cynicism and misinformation against the Nigeria Police Force, its hierarchy, and particularly its current leadership. These attacks, characterized by inflammatory headlines, misleading reports, and outright falsehoods, seem more than mere journalism. They appear to be part of a calculated, sponsored effort to perpetually discredit and undermine the NPF.
At the center of this sustained smear campaign is a disturbing pattern, the consistent targeting of not only the IGP but also the office of the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO). Sowore, through Sahara Reporters, has persistently attempted to draw a fictitious link between the Force and patriotic, independent groups or individuals who voluntarily express support for the police and its leadership. These attempts to falsely attribute the civic engagements of well-meaning Nigerians to the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi ACP, are not only disingenuous but also a dangerous distortion of facts aimed at stirring public distrust.
It is important to state unequivocally that the Nigeria Police Force, like any other national institution, has a constitutional mandate to serve the public, and under IGP Kayode Egbetokun, this mandate has been pursued with unprecedented vigor. Since his assumption of office, the IGP has implemented a range of reforms that have redefined policing in Nigeria. Under the leadership of Egbetokun, there has been an intentional shift towards community-based policing, ensuring greater collaboration between the police and the communities they serve. The force has seen the acquisition of modern equipment, increased deployment of technology in crime detection, and retraining of officers to meet global policing standards. Furthermore, IGP Egbetokun has emphasized professional ethics within the force, with several erring officers brought to book, a bold move that has enhanced public trust. From combating banditry to stemming violent crimes in volatile regions, the Police Force has become more responsive and strategic in its security operations. There has been renewed attention to the welfare of personnel, aimed at boosting morale and service delivery.
These reforms are not just policy adjustments on paper, they reflect tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Citizens across the country have begun to recognize and appreciate the positive changes in the way the police engage with the public.
It is, therefore, disheartening that at a time when the Force is regaining the trust of Nigerians, an individual like Sowore, with a history of antagonism towards established institutions, would continually seek to misrepresent the efforts of the police and cast aspersions on its leadership. Even more disturbing is the suspicion that these attacks are being fueled by politically exposed individuals, both within and outside the police system, who feel threatened by the ongoing cleansing and reforms within the Force.
Every democratic society must protect the freedom of the press, but that freedom must be accompanied by responsibility. When media platforms abandon objectivity for vendetta, and activism for sensationalism, they cease to be agents of truth and become instruments of sabotage.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the able leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is not perfect, no institution is. But what cannot be denied is the clear direction, visionary reforms, and renewed professionalism that have become hallmarks of the current administration. Rather than joining the bandwagon of baseless criticism, Nigerians must rise to defend and support their police force.
The consistent demonization of the police by Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters is not just an attack on the leadership of the force; it is an attack on the entire institution and, by extension, on national security. It is time for Nigerians to see through the facade, reject politically motivated narratives, and stand with their police as they strive to build a safer, more just society. The path to a secure nation lies not in tearing down our institutions, but in strengthening them, together.
Olalekan Johnson is the General Secretary, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance. He sent in this Piece from Lagos
