By Festus Fifen

One of the Cardinal responsibilities of a Police officer is the protection of lives and properties and the ability to respond to the distress call of the public whenever the need arises.

Over the years the Nigeria Police Force under different leadership and Inspectors General of Police have carried out strategic reforms aimed at repositioning the force for effective ness and efficiency.
While some of those reforms have been successful in yielding the desired results, others became what is naturally referred to as ‘efforts in futility’.

One of such reforms that defied past administration of the Police Force is the recurring drama that happens in different Police Road blocks and stop -and- Search spots doting local, state and federal roads and water ways across the country.

To an average Nigerian, especially those in the rural areas, a Police Officer or anyone wearing the police uniform is either perceived as a bully, an oppressor, an extortionist or a law breaker. This is because the image of the Nigeria Police Force has been badly tainted by some bad eggs within the force for a very long time. Though One would not blame the average Nigerian so much because, the long and poor perception and misconception issues between the police and the public have not been handled properly until recently when IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun took over the helm of affairs in the Police Force with ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi effectively mounting the Force Public Relations Department.

Public outcry about the conduct of police officers on duty and off duty which usually comes in forms of complaints and petitions never got attended to and in cases where they are attended to because of the popularity of the cases, justice is never seen to have been served appropriately.

These frustrations has led to the public not having much confidence on the Nigeria Police Force. These and many other issues were the situation before IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun took over the helm of affairs as the Inspector General Of Police.

IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the 22nd and current Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Nigeria, exemplifies a swift and remarkable rise through the ranks of the Nigerian Police Force, marked by academic excellence, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to national security.

He was appointed on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the 22nd Inspector General Of Police taken over the batton of office from IGP Alkali Baba.

Egbetokun’s career trajectory is a testament to his dedication and multifaceted expertise which is today playing out in his numerous achievements and reforms in the Nigeria Police Force.

When IGP Egbetokun Assumed Office as the 22nd Inspector General Of Police, he did promise a lot of change and reforms which are very visible today to an average Nigerian. Like Pablo Picasso said, ” Action is the foundational key to all success” this man likes action. He matches his words with the required action for performance.

His desire for intelligence led policing policies gave room for numerous reforms in the Force since his assumption of office about 2 years ago.

One of his major achievements which Nigerians are applauding him for in these last two years is the speed at which Police misconduct and harassment at checkpoints along major highways and arterial roads in Nigeria are handled. Just present your case of police misconduct and concrete evidence before the IGP through any of the mechanisms put in place to stop police misconduct and the police boss will immediately take action.
Also with a Force Spokesman like ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi who sees the social media as one of the effective ways to engage with the public, Police misconducts reported on any social media space are also attended to swiftly without waiting for a petitioner.

It has been observed lately that since IGP Egbetokun is known to respond to police misconduct after carrying out proper investigation and due diligence, there has been a drastic reduction in the frequency of occurrences of such societal anomaly. Police officers are now more conscious of their conduct and how they handle conflicts on and off duty because there is a new sheriff in Town who does not take nonsense.

In confronting the worsening security situation in the country, Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on 17th January 2024, inaugurated the Special Intervention Squad SIS which is designed to respond swiftly to civil unrest.

While presenting the SIS, Egbetokun emphasized that public safety is a collaborative endeavour, and law enforcement and security of lives and property to place order in any society is no light task.

With a consciousness of ‘nothing just happens’ and the desire to see a reformed Police Force, IGP Egbetokun has invested so much in staff welfar and trainings which even saw the complete overhaul of the Training Curriculum of officers and men of the force in different training colleges nationwide with very senior officers undergoing capacity building courses within and outside Nigeria.

The Egbetokun led Police Management Team have also been able to secure the approval of President Bola Tinubu to recognise April 7 every year as National Police Day with the first edition already celebrated earlier in the year. This is in no doubt a moral boaster for fallen and living heroes.

IGP Family Welfare Scheme continued and expanded under the current administration which has disbursed Cheques to Family members of deceased officers is another commitment to staff welfare for both the living and the dead. At the last count, through sustained efforts, the Force had successfully disbursed benefits to 7,076 beneficiaries in nine phases, amounting to Twenty Billion, One Hundred and Twenty-Three Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety One Naira, Seven Kobo (N20,123,420,691.7).

The Police Commendation and Award Ceremony is another way officers and men of the force are being celebrated for playing key roles in the nation’s security system. The Last edition which took place recently was another testament that the efforts of officers in the line of duty are not in vain.

Also is the advancement of infrastructural development which culminated in the commissioning of some projects such as the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, the International Conference Centre, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), the Force Intelligence Building, the Force Public Relations School, the Police Intelligence School located in Share, Kwara State, Evidence/Exhibits Storage facilities, and newly acquired operational assets including vehicles, APCs, Drones, Gun trucks all points to rhe Commitment of IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun in reformimg the Nigeria Police Force.

With a desire to engage more with the Public, the IGP has also intensified efforts to make sure the police Public Relations Department is well strengthened for effectiveness. This is amplified with his support and expansion of the annual conference for the image makers of the Nigeria Police Force which has become a training and retraining ground for image makers across different Police commands and formations across the country.

Egbetokun is known for his strategic mindset, scholarly approach to security challenges, and commitment to peace and stability. His academic background in Peace and Security Studies informs his leadership philosophy, emphasizing intelligence-led policing, community engagement, and modernization of the police force.