The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern directive warning officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to steer clear of land disputes and other civil cases.
In a video posted on the Force’s X handle on Thursday, the IGP stressed that officers “have no business escorting parties for land recovery.” He cautioned that the Nigeria Police Force is not an enforcer for private businesses, warning that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary action.
“Let me reiterate without ambiguity, the Nigeria Police Force is not and will never become an enforcer for private interests. Officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery business, disrupting legally existing occupations, or meddling in civil cases without a demonstrable criminal element.
“Every such incident erodes the neutrality of the force and opens us up to disrepute. The line must be clear and any officer who crosses it must face disciplinary consequences,” Egbetokun declared.
Meanwhile, the IGP on Thursday also launched a nationwide training programme for operatives on the use of the newly introduced Criminal Database Systems, describing it as the “nervous system of 21st century Nigerian policing.”
Speaking at the official opening of the training in Abuja, Egbetokun said the initiative marked a clear shift from reactive policing to a proactive, intelligence-driven model anchored on data, predictive analysis, and global integration.
“This training is more than an exercise. It is a declaration that the NPF has stepped into a new era. Without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals,” the police chief stated.
“For too long, Nigerian policing has been limited by weak records, scattered files, and fragmented intelligence. That era ends today. With the support of the Federal Government and our partners, we are building a system where every arrest is recorded, every case is documented, and every officer is accountable. No case will vanish into forgotten files. No conviction will disappear into silence,” he assured.
Egbetokun emphasized that trust in policing begins with proper record-keeping, stressing that the new system would ensure complaints are captured, tracked, and pursued to logical conclusions.
“Every case you enter, every record you preserve, every link you verify, will strengthen justice in our nation. You are not merely handling files; you are safeguarding the future,” he charged.
According to him, accuracy and diligence on their part could mean the difference between criminals walking free and justice being served.
The IGP also linked the new initiative to Nigeria’s commitment to global policing standards, noting that the database would integrate seamlessly with international systems.
“Through integration with INTERPOL, the African Union Border Programme, and UNODC frameworks in West Africa, we are ensuring that criminal offenders in Nigeria will no longer find sanctuary abroad. When a trafficker is convicted in Nigeria, the world must know. When a weapon is seized at our borders, its trail must echo across continents,” he said.
