The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, disclosed that plans are underway to reform the Nigeria Police Force’s investigative practices and restore public trust.
Speaking during a workshop aimed at improving standards in criminal investigations, the police boss acknowledged that some officers were compromising the integrity of criminal investigations.
“It has been observed that certain unprofessional officers have compromised the Investigation Department’s integrity,” Egbetokun said.
“These individuals mishandle cases due to incompetence or personal gain, tarnishing the Force’s image and eroding public confidence. To address this, we are taking urgent steps to weed out unprofessional officers and strengthen our Investigation and Intelligence Departments,” he added.
Egbetokun said new measures aimed at increasing accountability within the department, including a structured process for deploying officers to and from the Criminal Investigation Department and other investigative units would be introduced.
“This structured approach ensures that only officers who have been vetted and adequately trained are mobilised into investigative roles,” he explained.
“Demobilisation will follow a systematic process, whereby officers are withdrawn after completing their assignments to prevent the development of corrupt practices. This is designed to maintain high levels of operational integrity and impartiality in criminal investigations across the Force.”
Egbetokun also announced a plan to establish new detective colleges in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. “In recognition of the growing need for specialised training, the Force will propose the establishment of new Detective Colleges,” he said.
“These colleges will serve as centres of excellence, providing robust training programmes for police officers and private detectives, contributing to the overall professionalisation of investigative services in the country.”
To ensure that CID officers are fully equipped for their roles, Egbetokun stated that all investigative personnel would now be required to complete a professional training programme. “Officers deployed to the CID must undergo comprehensive training to handle complex criminal cases,” he added.
“It is now mandatory for all officers to complete the Specialised Professional Training Programme at recognised institutions, such as the Police Detective College in Enugu,” he added.
In addition to structural reforms, the Inspector-General emphasised the importance of child-sensitive practices in police procedures, especially in cases involving minors. “Child-friendly policing is essential to modern law enforcement,” he said.
“Every interaction with a child, whether as a victim, witness, or even an offender, must be conducted with sensitivity and professionalism. We are introducing a Child-Friendly Policing Framework to ensure trauma-informed techniques and non-intimidating environments.”
