By Kelvin Adegbenga
There is no doubt that Festus Adedayo has aligned himself with a group of detractors assembled to undermine the Nigeria Police Force, particularly targeting the calm and reform-driven Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
I was not surprised to read his latest mischievous article titled “The Rotten Apples at Louis Edet House”, published by the Sunday Tribune on July 13, 2025.
No right-thinking individual would indulge in such blatant distortion as, “There is no doubt that Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, is sitting on a house of rot.”
The challenges facing the Nigeria Police did not begin with the current IGP. However, numerous reforms have been introduced under Egbetokun’s leadership that are already transforming the Force.
Since assuming office, the IGP has significantly reshaped crime-fighting strategies through the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad, extensive rehabilitation of police barracks nationwide, and the rapid enhancement of police infrastructure.
One of his landmark achievements is the commissioning of the Nigeria Police Resource Centre in Jabi, Abuja—an initiative that sets him apart. Numerous other projects have also been executed across Abuja, Lagos, and several other police formations nationwide.
Under Egbetokun’s leadership, the Nigeria Police Force has achieved notable progress in crime reduction. This includes the arrest of 30,313 suspects, the recovery of 1,984 firearms and 23,250 rounds of ammunition, and the rescue of 1,581 kidnapped victims.
Emphasising intelligence-led policing, the IGP has driven tangible results, such as the rescue of over 300 kidnapped individuals and the arrest of over 10,000 suspects linked to various criminal activities within just three months.
Community policing initiatives have been actively promoted, fostering collaboration between the police and local communities. This has significantly enhanced trust, cooperation, and public safety across the country.
Egbetokun has also introduced forward-thinking reforms to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for operational efficiency and greater public trust. These reforms leverage modern technology and advanced intelligence-gathering to strengthen responses to security threats.
Institutional integrity is another hallmark of his leadership. Outstanding officers are being recognised for their bravery, professionalism, and dedication to service. The annual Nigeria Police Awards and Commendation Ceremony exemplifies this renewed culture of merit and excellence.
It is deeply troubling that Festus Adedayo would stoop so low as to ridicule the IGP’s sincere statement regarding his lack of prior knowledge about the retirement benefit debacle, dismissing it as “a lie from the pit of hell.” Such language is not only inflammatory but also beneath journalistic ethics.
I challenge Festus Adedayo to either prove or retract his defamatory assertion that, “It is said that the various billions of Naira voted for infrastructure upgrade of police stations and barracks get filched by an unholy trinity of federal legislators, police commission and police top brasses… Successive police IGPs have been content with corruptively enriching themselves… rather than bothering about the rot…”
In no other country would so-called intellectuals accept every social media rumour as gospel. If other IGPs were complicit in corruption, as Adedayo claims, IGP Kayode Egbetokun certainly should not be lumped in with them.
The Inspector-General has consistently prioritised the welfare of both serving and retired officers, with numerous initiatives focused on improved working conditions, fair compensation, and overall well-being.
It is shocking that someone of Festus Adedayo’s academic stature would align himself with a failed presidential candidate like Omoyele Sowore in calling for what amounts to mutiny within the police—inciting officers to protest in contravention of the Police Act 2020 (as amended) and the Public Service Rules, which categorically prohibit such actions.
IGP Egbetokun is leading an ambitious campaign to professionalise the Nigeria Police Force through strategic reforms. These include enhanced training and reorientation programmes that emphasise ethics and human rights, as well as the expansion of community policing.
He also underscores the importance of discipline, adoption of modern policing technologies, and comprehensive welfare improvements for all officers.
IGP Egbetokun’s leadership exemplifies the value of collaboration, resilience, accountability, and proactive engagement in addressing systemic and institutional challenges.
Through efforts to build trust, resolve internal conflicts, and implement far-reaching reforms, he is creating a Police Force that is not only more expansive in capability but also more professional, law-abiding, service-oriented, people-friendly, and community-driven.
His ability to unify stakeholders around a shared vision of security inspires confidence in the emergence of a more effective and cohesive policing institution.
Egbetokun’s approach serves as a model of how strategic leadership and conflict resolution can tackle even the most entrenched institutional challenges.
Kelvin Adegbenga
National Coordinator, Integrity Youth Alliance
@kelvinadegbenga
kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com
