The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has warned that officers must not meddle in civil disputes, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force will not act as enforcers for private interests.
In a video shared on the official X handle of the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, IGP Kayode Egbetokun cautioned officers against meddling in civil disputes or serving private interests.
He said, “Let me reiterate without ambiguity, the Nigerian Police Force is not and will never become an enforcer for private interests. Officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery, disrupting legally existing occupations, or meddling in civil claims without a demonstrable criminal element. Every such incident erodes the neutrality of the Force and opens us up to disrepute.”
Egbetokun further stressed that disciplinary action will await any officer found to be violating this directive. “The line must be clear, and any officer who crosses it will face disciplinary consequences,” he added.
In a statement signed by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, on Thursday, Egbetokun also paid glowing tribute to the late Inspector-General of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase.
Egbetokun, describing his death as “a loss that rests heavily, not only on his family, but on the Nigeria Police Force and the nation at large.”
He added that the late Solomon Arase, who served as the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s policing and security landscape.
PUNCH Online reports that Arase passed away on August 31, 2025, at age 69, after an undisclosed illness at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja. His family confirmed his death in a statement.
Speaking on Wednesday, at the Day of Tributes in Celebration of the Life and Times of Late IGP Solomon Ehigiator Arase (Rtd), Egbetokun praised him as “An institution in himself, a rare blend of intellect, discipline, and humanity.”
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa; former Governors Adams Oshiomhole and Obong Victor Attah; former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu; former SGF Boss Mustapha; and several former Inspectors-General of Police, alongside colleagues and well-wishers.
In another video, the IGP also assured personnel that welfare remains central to his administration’s reforms.
He stressed that the Nigerian Police Force has placed welfare at the centre of its reforms, making it a top priority for serving, retired, and even fallen officers.
“Let me reaffirm with utmost clarity that the welfare of officers of the NPF, whether serving, retired, or departed, remains a cardinal priority of this administration. Welfare is not a footnote in our agenda; it is the heartbeat of our resolve. We are redesigning the welfare architecture to make it stronger, more transparent, and more responsive.”
“We are digitising our processes so that entitlements flow without delay. We are ensuring that no family of a deceased officer is ever left unattended or made to feel forgotten.”
Credit: punchng.com
