The Nigeria Police Force has rejected allegations by the International Press Institute (IPI) over the alleged wrongful arrest of a journalist, describing attempts to link the incident to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, as unfounded and misleading.
The Force said the IGP neither authorised nor condoned the arrest, harassment, or intimidation of any journalist, insisting that the leadership of the Police remains firmly committed to constitutional policing, media freedom, and professional accountability.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, and dated December 24, 2025, the Police disclosed that immediate steps were taken to address the incident once it was formally brought to the attention of the IGP.
The statement reads partly:
“The Nigeria Police Force states unequivocally that the attempt to link the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, to the alleged incident is unfounded, misleading, and unsupported by facts.
At no time did the IGP authorize, direct, or condone the arrest, harassment, or intimidation of any journalist.
“Upon being formally notified of the incident by the President of IPI, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, through the Force Public Relations Officer, the IGP immediately ordered the release of the journalist and directed the Force Monitoring Unit to commence investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
“Clear instructions were issued that any officer found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with extant laws and disciplinary procedures.”
The Police said the actions taken by the IGP were prompt, transparent, and communicated to the IPI, stressing that it was therefore inaccurate to portray the incident as evidence of institutional hostility to press freedom.
According to the Force, misconduct by individual officers cannot be attributed to the leadership of the Police or used to malign the institution as a whole.
The statement noted that the Nigeria Police Force, with a workforce of over 300,000 personnel nationwide, inevitably records isolated cases of misconduct, but maintained that such cases are neither ignored nor shielded and are always addressed through established disciplinary processes.
The Police further disclosed that the petition submitted by the IPI was referred to the Force Monitoring Unit in line with due process, but alleged that the organisation declined repeated invitations to appear before the Unit to formally adopt and harmonise its statements, a step described as essential to concluding investigations.
The Force said it was contradictory to obstruct investigative procedures while simultaneously accusing the Police of inaction.
Against this backdrop, the Police questioned the objectivity and proportionality of the IPI’s decision to suspend engagement with the Force over what it described as a single incident that had already attracted immediate corrective action and ongoing investigation.
The statement stressed that the Nigeria Police Force would not accept narratives aimed at undermining its leadership or institutional credibility through unsubstantiated allegations.
The Force reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing discipline within its ranks, upholding the rule of law, and protecting media freedom, while cautioning that no organisation has the authority to substitute public sentiment for due process or pronounce guilt while investigations remain ongoing.
