The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rejected what it described as unfounded and misleading allegations by the International Press Institute (IPI) linking the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to the alleged wrongful arrest of a journalist.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the Force said the IGP neither authorized nor condoned the arrest, harassment, or intimidation of any journalist, describing attempts to associate him with the incident as unsupported by facts.
According to the statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police leadership acted promptly upon being formally notified of the matter by the IPI President, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed. The IGP, it said, immediately ordered the release of the journalist and directed the Force Monitoring Unit to commence an investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
The Police emphasized that clear instructions were issued that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary action in line with extant laws and procedures, adding that the IPI was duly informed of these steps.
The NPF further dismissed claims of institutional hostility toward the media, stressing that misconduct by individual officers should not be attributed to the leadership or weaponized to malign the entire institution.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a large organization with over 300,000 personnel nationwide. While the majority of officers discharge their duties professionally, isolated cases of misconduct may occur. Such cases are neither shielded nor ignored but are investigated strictly in accordance with due process,” the statement said.
The Force also disclosed that the petition submitted by the IPI was referred to the Force Monitoring Unit for investigation. However, it claimed that the IPI declined repeated invitations to appear before the unit to formally adopt and harmonize its statements, a step the Police described as essential for concluding investigations and enforcing disciplinary measures.
Describing the IPI’s decision to suspend engagement with the Police over a single incident as disproportionate, the NPF questioned the objectivity of the action, especially in light of what it termed immediate corrective measures and an ongoing investigation.
The statement reaffirmed the Police’s commitment to constitutional policing, media freedom, and professional accountability, while cautioning against attempts to substitute due process with public sentiment or to pronounce guilt while investigations are still ongoing.
The Nigeria Police Force, it concluded, remains resolute in enforcing discipline within its ranks and upholding the rule of law, while firmly resisting narratives that seek to undermine its leadership and institutional credibility.
