Stop taking complaints against police to social media, IGP Egbetokun tells Nigerians

• He asked Nigerians to take their complaints to any senior officer that would ensure justice is done
• He called for the cooperation and support of all stakeholders to achieve results and rid society of crime

Kayode Egbetokun, acting inspector-general of police (IGP), has appealed to Nigerians to desist from tabling their grievances against police officers before members of the public on social media.

Egbetokun made the plea on Tuesday during stakeholders meeting at the headquarters of the police command in Ibadan, Oyo state.

The meeting was attended by representatives of traditional and religious leaders; the leadership of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), leaders of the police community relations committee (PCRC), and Igbo and Hausa communities, among others in the state.

Egbetokun said Nigerians should not hesitate to report their complaints against the operatives to the police hierarchy.

“If you have any complaint against the police, don’t go to social media. Go to the commissioners of police in the state,” he said.

“Some of our men will misbehave, we cannot guarantee that all of them will behave well. Report to the CPs or any superior officer who will take it up and ensure justice is done.

“There are a lot of falsehoods going on on social media. If you need clarification, go to the commissioners of police or police public relations officers (PPROs).”

Egbetokun said his mission is to put in place professional, service-driven, rule-of-law-compliant, and people-friendly police officers.

He said he is committed to having a police force that would be able to respond adequately to the dynamics of crime and criminality in society and “ensure citizens sleep with their two eyes closed”.

“Modern policing is community-based, technology-driven, and intelligence-led. We are going to focus on community in all the states of the federation. But we are shifting to new policing strategies,” the acting IGP added.

“We are going to adopt community policing by taking cognisance of certain peculiarities of each community through collaboration with other security agencies and state-owned security outfits to fight and reduce crime.”

He called for the cooperation and support of all stakeholders to achieve results and rid society of crime.