The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has disclosed that police officers found providing protection to recently arrested foreign hackers were on illegal duty, as they were not officially assigned to such tasks.
This statement followed the Nigeria Police Force’s announcement on November 4 about the apprehension of 130 individuals linked to high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities posing threats to national security.
Among the arrested suspects were 113 foreign nationals, predominantly from China and Malaysia, along with 17 Nigerian accomplices. The group reportedly engaged in various forms of cyber fraud targeting individuals and institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
However, an investigation revealed that these foreign nationals had police escorts before their detention, sparking questions about the involvement of law enforcement officers in such illegal activities.
Reacting to the findings during a workshop on the standardization of criminal investigations, IG Egbetokun confirmed the arrest of the implicated police officers. He emphasized their involvement in providing protection to the foreign hackers was unauthorized, stating, “The policemen have been arrested.
We found out that the policemen were on illegal duty. Nobody deployed them officially for that assignment.” The IG further noted that the officers’ unit commander had disowned them, distancing the police authority from the unauthorized deployment.
Egbetokun reassured the public of the police’s commitment to addressing this issue, stating that the officers found performing illegal duties would face appropriate disciplinary actions. “We have detained them, and they will be dealt with accordingly. Their unit commanders have already denied sending them on such assignments, indicating a clear case of misconduct,” he added.
The IG’s comments highlighted the ongoing efforts to curb corruption and unauthorized activities within the police force.
Egbetokun also clarified the role of the police in providing security to deserving individuals, especially VIPs and prominent businessmen who significantly contribute to the nation’s economy.
He explained that some business leaders, who employ large numbers of Nigerians, legitimately require police protection due to their high-risk profiles. “We have to deploy officers for the protection of certain individuals in society. If something happens to them, it could have serious repercussions on their businesses and, by extension, the unemployment rate in the country,” Egbetokun stated.
However, he acknowledged not all individuals receiving police escorts are officially entitled to such protection. The IG pointed out instances where some officers are informally attached to individuals without proper authorization, a practice he vowed to eradicate. “Some policemen you see attached to individuals who don’t deserve protection were not formally deployed.
Many are picked up from the streets for private duties,” Egbetokun revealed. He emphasized ongoing measures to trace these officers back to their respective units and hold their commanders accountable.
In addressing the broader issue of misuse of police escorts, Egbetokun cautioned against the abuse of this service by individuals who qualify for it. He highlighted cases where escorts, formally assigned to protect certain VIPs, were misused for personal errands unrelated to their official duties. “Whenever we discover that individuals misuse their escorts, we withdraw the officers immediately,” he said, underscoring the police’s commitment to ensuring that escorts are used strictly for security purposes.
The Inspector General also commented on the recent arrests of minors following the #EndBadGovernance protests, clarifying misconceptions about their detention. According to Egbetokun, the minors were not apprehended for participating in the protests but for engaging in criminal activities such as looting and vandalism. “The narrative that these children were arrested for participating in the protest is false. We did not arrest any protesters. Those detained were criminals exploiting the protest to cause destruction,” he clarified.
Egbetokun expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his intervention, which led to the pardon of some of the detained minors. Nonetheless, he maintained that the police acted within their duty to protect public infrastructure and private businesses from looters.
“The police cannot ignore acts of arson and vandalism under the guise of protests. Such actions threaten societal progress and stability,” Egbetokun stated, reaffirming the police’s role in maintaining law and order.
