The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has warned officers of the Nigeria Police Force to keep off land disputes and civil matters.

In a video posted on the Force’s X handle on Thursday, he said, “Officers have no business escorting parties for land recovery. The Nigeria Police Force is not and will never become an enforcer for private interests.”

The IGP said any officer caught meddling in civil cases without a proven criminal element 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 consequences.”

Land disputes are one of the most common sources of violence in Nigeria, often dragging communities into years of conflict. By distancing police from such matters, the IGP hopes to rebuild public confidence and prevent abuse of power.

New Criminal Database Training

The IGP also opened a nationwide training session for officers on the use of the new Criminal Database System. He described it as the “nervous system of 21st century Nigerian policing.”

Speaking in Abuja, he said the platform marks a shift from reactive policing to a proactive, intelligence-led model anchored on data and predictive analysis. “This training is more than an exercise. It is a declaration that the NPF has stepped into a new era.”

He added: “Without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals.”

The police chief admitted that weak records, scattered files, and poor intelligence had long crippled policing in Nigeria. Cases were lost in forgotten files, prosecutions stalled, and public trust eroded.

Building a Global-Standard System

Egbetokun stressed that the new system would ensure every arrest is recorded, every complaint tracked, and every officer accountable. “No case will vanish into forgotten files. No conviction will disappear into silence.”

He urged trainees to treat the task with seriousness: “Every case you enter, every record you preserve, every link you verify, will strengthen justice in our nation. You are not merely handling files; you are safeguarding the future.”

The IGP also linked the reform to international policing. Through links with INTERPOL, the African Union Border Programme, and the UNODC, he said Nigerian convictions and seizures will no longer remain local. “When a trafficker is convicted in Nigeria, the world must know. When a weapon is seized at our borders, its trail must echo across continents.”

Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article and Follow us on our social media handles. You can also Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!