The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has stepped up efforts to curb misconduct, extortion and unlawful arrests, with senior officers in Lagos and Abia states warning personnel to respect citizens’ rights and adhere to professional standards.

At separate meetings on Monday, October 26, 2026, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, Simeon Akpanudom, and the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, directed officers to strengthen accountability, improve supervision and adopt intelligence-led policing.

The directives come amid renewed emphasis on public confidence in the police, with the officers warning that misconduct, including extortion, harassment and arrest by proxy, would not be tolerated.

Akpanudom, who spoke during a lecture for personnel of the FCID Annex in Lagos, expressed concern over complaints of unprofessional conduct, warning that the actions of individual officers could undermine public trust and damage the reputation of the police.

He stressed that investigations must be thorough, impartial and evidence-based, directing investigating police officers to understand the facts of each case, carefully examine petitions and supporting documents, and develop clear plans before taking action.

The AIG also directed that letters should clearly state the purpose of invitation and, where applicable, the offence under investigation.

He emphasised that arrests must be based on lawful grounds and facts established during investigations.

Akpanudom specifically condemned arrest by proxy, warning that no one should be arrested merely because of their relationship with a suspect.

He also reiterated the prohibition of extortion, torture, harassment and other unlawful practices, insisting that everyone in police custody must be treated with dignity and have access to prompt medical attention when ill.

Officers were further directed to maintain proper records of detainees and their belongings. Items not required for investigations or as exhibits should be returned to their owners, while those retained as evidence must be properly documented and handled in accordance with established procedures.

In Abia State, Afolabi issued similar warnings during a strategic meeting with the Command’s management team and area commanders, directing them to strengthen supervision and ensure that officers under their command complied with professional standards.
 
He said station guards should be strengthened to improve security at police stations and other formations, while area commanders were directed to supervise divisions regularly and monitor officers’ conduct and performance.
 
The commissioner also announced that the Command’s X Squad would monitor police activities to check misconduct and ensure professionalism. He warned that extortion in the course of police duties would not be tolerated.
 
To improve intelligence gathering and crime prevention, Afolabi directed all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to ensure that crime maps were available at their stations. Area and divisional intelligence officers were also instructed to update the maps daily to support intelligence-led operations and proactive policing.
 
Both senior officers stressed the need for discipline in officers’ use of social media, directing personnel to comply strictly with the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy. 
 
They also urged officers to exercise restraint in public statements and maintain impartiality, particularly during the election period.
 
Beyond conduct and accountability, Akpanudom highlighted efforts to improve detectives’ investigative skills through ongoing training in criminal profiling and fingerprint identification by the Central Criminal Registry and the Police Forensic Unit.
 
The training, being conducted in batches, is designed to improve officers’ capacity in suspect identification, criminal record management, fingerprint analysis and evidence-based investigations.
 
He said continuous professional development was necessary to equip detectives with the technical skills required to handle complex criminal cases and improve the quality of investigations.
 
The AIG also cautioned officers against unauthorised roadblocks and activities inconsistent with established procedures, urging team leaders and sectional heads to ensure that personnel under their supervision complied with lawful operational standards.
 
The two officers called on their personnel to uphold the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights and strengthen public confidence through responsible and effective policing.
 
Akpanudom also urged members of the public to cooperate with the police by providing credible information and reporting suspected criminal activities through appropriate channels.