Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed officers of the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw from land disputes and civil matters, warning that such involvement undermines the Force’s neutrality and credibility.
In a video posted on the Force’s official X handle on Thursday, Egbetokun stated that officers have “no business escorting parties for land recovery,” stressing that the police must not act as enforcers for private interests.
“Officers have no business disrupting legally occupied premises or meddling in civil cases without a clear criminal element. Any officer who crosses that line will face disciplinary action,” he warned.
The IGP issued the directive while launching a nationwide training on the Force’s new Criminal Database System, designed to modernize policing through technology, data, and intelligence.
“This training marks a shift from reactive policing to a proactive, data-driven model. Without data, there is no memory; without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals,” Egbetokun said.
He acknowledged that poor record-keeping and fragmented intelligence have long hindered effective policing in Nigeria but declared that era over.
“With support from the Federal Government and our partners, we are building a system where every arrest is recorded, every case documented, and every officer accountable,” he said.
Egbetokun added that the new system will integrate with global crime databases, including those of INTERPOL and the UN, ensuring that offenders cannot escape justice by crossing borders.
“When a trafficker is convicted in Nigeria, the world must know. When weapons are seized, their trail must echo across continents,” he said.
The IGP urged officers undergoing the training to treat their new role as guardians of national crime data with utmost seriousness, noting that their accuracy and diligence could mean the difference between justice served or denied.
