The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has expressed concerns and condemned cases of extortion and high-handedness perpetrated by certain recalcitrant members of the Nigeria Police Force.

The IGP made this disclosure while addressing Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and heads of various formations at the IGP’s Conference with Senior Police Officers, held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan International Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, recently.

During his speech, the IGP charged senior officers to properly supervise the activities of officers at various levels and ensure the highest standard of professional conduct is maintained and upheld in the course of carrying out their lawful duties.

He also ordered the IGP X-Squad, Monitoring Unit, Complaint Response Unit (CRU), and other disciplinary units to conduct routine checks on officers’ activities across the country as part of efforts to curb misconduct and corruption.

The IGP said that strict punishment must be meted out to erring officers and warned that supervisory officers found wanting would not be spared of vicarious liability.

Similarly, the IGP issued a stern warning to officers against the unethical practice of name-dropping—using his name or those of other senior officers to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

He stressed that any officer found guilty of leveraging his name for fraudulent activities or extortion would face severe disciplinary measures, reaffirming that the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, unprofessional behaviour, and misconduct.

IGP Egbetokun also urged the public to exercise caution and report any attempts to exploit his name for fraudulent activities or extortion during case investigations.

He noted the crucial role citizens play in the collaborative policing of society and the police force.