The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has warned officers to stay away from land disputes or civil matters that do not involve clear criminal elements.
Speaking on Thursday, Egbetokun stated that officers of the Nigeria Police would no longer serve as enforcers for private interests.
He noted that getting involved in such matters undermines the force’s neutrality and reputation.
He said, “Nigeria Police Force is not and will never become an enforcer for private interests.
“Officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery business, disrupting legally existing occupations, or meddling in civil claims without a demonstrable criminal element.”
He added that any officer found to have crossed this line would face disciplinary action.
Egbetokun also inaugurated a nationwide training programme for police operatives on the newly introduced Criminal Database Systems, which he described as the “nervous system of 21st century Nigerian policing”.
“The launch took place in Abuja “and marks a shift from reactive policing to proactive, intelligence-led operations based on data analysis and international cooperation.
This training is more than an exercise; it is a declaration that the NPF has stepped into a new era. Without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals,” Egbetokun added.
The IGP acknowledged that poor record-keeping, fragmented intelligence, and scattered files have long been weaknesses in Nigerian policing, often resulting in stalled prosecutions and diminished public trust.
He vowed that the new system would end the era of “forgotten files”.
“With the support of the Federal Government and our partners, we are building a system where every arrest is recorded, every case is documented, and every officer is accountable. No case will vanish into forgotten files. No conviction will disappear into silence,” he said.
Egbetokun said the database would enhance domestic law enforcement and align Nigeria with global policing standards.
