IGP: Officers guarding foreign hackers were on illegal duty

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed that officers assigned to protect recently arrested foreign hackers were not deployed through official channels, and are now in custody facing disciplinary action.

On November 4, the Nigeria Police Force apprehended 130 individuals involved in cybercrimes and national security threats, including 113 foreign nationals from China and Malaysia and 17 Nigerian accomplices. An investigation revealed that some of these suspects had been receiving police protection before their arrest.

Addressing this on Monday at a criminal investigations workshop, Egbetokun confirmed that the implicated officers were acting independently. “These officers were on an unauthorized assignment, and no formal approval was given for their deployment,” he stated. He affirmed that the unit commanders had not sanctioned these assignments and emphasized that the officers would face consequences for their actions.

While reaffirming the police’s role in protecting certain high-risk individuals in society, such as prominent business leaders whose activities impact employment and economic stability, Egbetokun clarified that some officers seen escorting people not deserving of police protection had not been officially deployed. He further noted that efforts were underway to reduce these unauthorized assignments, warning that commanders would be held accountable in future incidents.

Egbetokun also cautioned against the misuse of police escorts, underscoring that escorts granted based on a person’s assessed need could be withdrawn if misused.

In another update, the IG addressed the recent arrests of minors, asserting that they were detained not for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests but for engaging in looting and destruction of public infrastructure. He added, “No protester was arrested; those apprehended were committing crimes amidst the protests.”