Why Some Groups Targeted Me — Egbetokun Speaks on Media Attacks

Former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, says persistent media criticism during his tenure was largely driven by individuals and groups affected by internal reforms he introduced within the Nigeria Police Force.

In a reflection on his time in office, Egbetokun said one of the first issues he confronted after his appointment was the widespread falsification of service records by some officers seeking to extend their years in the Force.

According to him, investigations revealed that certain officers allegedly paid to alter official records in order to remain in service beyond the statutory retirement period. His administration, he said, halted the practice and identified those involved.

“I didn’t just stop the practice. We identified the culprits and forwarded their names to the Police Service Commission for disciplinary action, and they were removed from the system,” he stated.

Egbetokun also addressed a dispute involving a group of cadet officers who sought to remain in service beyond the allowed tenure based on a ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

He said further investigation showed the court decision relied on a signal purportedly issued by the Office of the Force Secretary and transmitted through the Sokoto State Command. According to him, the signal was later discovered to be fabricated.

“Our investigation confirmed that no such signal came from the Office of the Force Secretary. The version said to have been transmitted by the Sokoto Command and presented in court was also fabricated,” he said.

The findings were subsequently submitted to the Police Service Commission, which took disciplinary measures against officers connected with the case.

Egbetokun said enforcing discipline within the police hierarchy was a central principle of his leadership.

“We cannot effectively enforce the law if we fail to enforce discipline within our own ranks,” he said.

He alleged that some wealthy individuals affected by the disciplinary actions later financed media campaigns aimed at damaging his reputation, leading to what he described as misleading reports and allegations against his administration.

The former police chief also linked some criticism to opposition from groups unhappy with amendments to the Nigeria Police Act that allowed him to serve a four-year tenure as Inspector-General. According to him, certain senior officers who hoped to occupy the position joined the campaign against him.

Egbetokun further accused members associated with the Take It Back Movement of promoting negative narratives against the police during protests linked to the End Bad Governance Protest.

He alleged that organisers of the demonstrations intended to trigger widespread unrest similar to the scale of the End SARS protests and referenced mass protests in Kenya in 2024.

According to him, police actions during the demonstrations were aimed at preventing violence and protecting national stability.

“We acted within the law to prevent violence during the protests. Given the country’s socioeconomic situation at the time, we believed it was necessary in the interest of Nigerians,” he said.

Despite the controversies surrounding his tenure, Egbetokun said his administration remained focused on institutional reforms.

“In spite of the media battles, I stayed focused. I believe the reforms we pursued helped strengthen policing in the interest of Nigerians,” he said.