Police Misconduct: IGP Orders Immediate Ban on Arbitrary Arrests, Phone Checks

DDM News

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern directive ordering an immediate halt to the unnecessary arrests and detention of youths, as well as the arbitrary collection and checking of mobile phones by police officers across Nigeria.

This directive follows mounting public outrage over persistent human rights abuses, including unlawful detentions, harassment, and extortion of innocent citizens by police personnel.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered the information from the order, contained in a police wireless message dated December 13, 2024, and addressed to all State Commands, warns that any officer caught engaging in these prohibited acts will face strict disciplinary measures.

The directive further states that supervisory officers, including Commissioners of Police (CPs) of affected commands, will also be held accountable for any violations.

Signed by the Department of Operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the order emphasizes the need for immediate compliance to restore the tarnished image of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The memo stressed that such unlawful practices not only erode public trust but also paint the police force in a negative light.

It further highlighted that similar misconduct contributed significantly to the #EndSARS protests of 2020, which led to widespread destruction of properties, violence, and loss of lives across the country.

Those protests, driven by systemic police brutality and extortion, became a rallying point for calls to reform Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.

The message, identified with the reference number DTO: 111996/ and Ref: CB:0900/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.TIO/157, read in part: “Arbitrary Arrest and Detention X NIGPOL directs henceforth there should be no unnecessary arrest and detention of youths X collecting of phones X checking of phones at checking points X these should stop X this attitude is portraying the Nigeria Police Force in bad image X all these culminated to #EndSARS protest X destruction of properties X killing in the past X NIGPOL DOPS directs you desist from such unlawful acts X anyone caught will be disciplined along with commands’ COMPOLs/supervisors X IGP will deploy monitoring units for enforcement of this directive X treat as very important.”

The directive could not have come at a more critical time.

In recent months, Nigerians have expressed renewed concerns about police misconduct, particularly the harassment and extortion of youths.

It has become a common occurrence for police personnel to stop young people arbitrarily at checkpoints, demand access to their phones, and accuse them of fraudulent activities without evidence.

Often, these encounters are accompanied by threats of arrest, physical intimidation, and illegal detentions, inflicting both psychological and financial harm on the victims.

The #EndSARS protests of 2020 brought these issues to global attention, serving as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s struggle for police accountability.

The demonstrations, driven largely by Nigerian youths, demanded the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious police unit infamous for extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, and systemic extortion.

Though SARS was officially disbanded following the protests, public trust in the police has remained fragile due to continued reports of similar infractions by other units.

The IGP’s directive represents a renewed effort to address these lingering grievances and rebuild public confidence in the force.

By threatening punitive measures against both individual officers and their superiors, the directive signals a commitment to holding the police hierarchy accountable for the behavior of its personnel.

This shift acknowledges that systemic issues within the force require not just policy changes but also effective enforcement and oversight.

To ensure compliance, the IGP announced plans to deploy special monitoring units tasked with assessing police behavior at checkpoints and operational zones nationwide.

This measure is expected to ensure that the directive is not merely rhetorical but translates into tangible improvements on the ground.

The directive has been met with cautious optimism from civil society organizations and concerned Nigerians.

Many have commended the IGP for acknowledging the harmful effects of arbitrary arrests and phone checks but emphasize the need for consistent implementation.

Human rights advocates argue that addressing the root causes of police misconduct will require sustained reforms, improved officer training, and the establishment of accountability mechanisms to punish violators.

The IGP’s directive represents a significant step toward curbing police misconduct and preventing a repeat of the events that led to the #EndSARS protests.

By prohibiting arbitrary arrests and unlawful phone searches, the Nigeria Police Force has the opportunity to begin repairing its damaged reputation and restoring public trust.

However, this directive must be backed by rigorous enforcement, transparent accountability, and continuous oversight to ensure that the culture of impunity within the force is eradicated for good.

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