The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has warned all officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to stay away from land disputes and civil matters that do not involve criminal elements.
In a strongly worded video message posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, the IGP declared that the Force is not a tool for private individuals or businesses to enforce their interests.
He stated categorically that officers have “no business escorting parties for land recovery” or involving themselves in civil disputes such as tenancy issues or contractual disagreements, unless there is clear evidence of a crime.
“Let me reiterate without ambiguity, the Nigeria Police Force is not and will never become an enforcer for private interests,” Egbetokun said.
“Officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery business, disrupting legally existing occupations or meddling in civil cases without a demonstrable criminal element,” he added.
The police boss expressed concern that such misuse of police power not only undermines public trust but also brings disrepute to the Force. He warned that any officer found engaging in these unauthorised activities will face disciplinary action.
“Every such incident erodes the neutrality of the Force and opens us up to disrepute. The line must be clear, and any officer who crosses it must face disciplinary consequences,” he stated.
This warning comes in the wake of rising complaints from citizens across the country over the misuse of police officers by influential individuals in land disputes, debt recovery, and other civil matters that should ordinarily be resolved through the courts.
By reaffirming the boundaries of police operations, the IGP is seeking to restore public confidence and reposition the Force as a professional, neutral, and law-abiding institution.
The IGP’s directive aligns with the Police Act and existing laws that clearly spell out the roles and limits of law enforcement agencies in civil matters.
Egbetokun urged the public to report any cases where officers are seen meddling in civil disputes, promising that such reports will be investigated and offenders held accountable.
The directive is expected to be circulated to all police commands across the federation for strict compliance.
