A human rights activist, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to stop double-talking to Nigerians over report of Police misconduct on social media, saying that the Police boss rolled out social media platforms to report the Police conduct upon assumption of office in order to bring the needed integrity to the Force.
Reacting to the recent assertion of the Police boss, warning Nigerians against reporting of Police misconduct on social media platforms, Sulaiman insisted that the same Egbetokun through Police spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi released the Police social media handles to report misconduct of men and officers of the Force.
Sulaiman who is also Executive Chairman,Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), urged the Inspector General of Police not to succumb to the pressure of some corrupt elements in the Force to cover the corrupt practices of the men of Nigeria Police Force.
According to the Statement released by the CHRSJ’S Media Office on Friday, quoting CHRSJ boss stated that the emergency of new media which brought about social media has helped national life in exposing the evil acts of some elements in the country.
He added that the introduction of social media in the national life has brought more advantages to the nation’s faulty policing system, particular, in exposing unprofessional conduct of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Sulaiman who doubles as Convener,Save Lagos Group(SLG), disclosed that if not for the emergency of social media, some elements in the Nigeria Police, would have destroyed the image of the Police, He advised the Police boss to ensure the training and retraining of the men and officers of the Nigeria Police to conduct themselves professionally in line with the international best practices.
The activist then said that such training and retraining exercise would make the police officers to respect the fundamental rights of the Nigeria citizens while performing their Constitutional duties and as well guided them to perform optimally.
“IGP is a very dutiful and professional Police Officer and since he came on board as Inspector General of Police, had been trying to ensure that men and women of the Police conduct themselves professionally in performing of thier official duties.
“But some bad eggs in the Force still continue with their unprofessional conduct and reporting of their conduct to the public through social media has been checkmated this categories of these officers from further bringing stigma to the Police Force”, Sulaiman submitted.Penultimate Monday, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun advised Nigerians to refrain from using social media to report the conduct of police officers, but rather direct such complaints to the Police Complaints Response Unit.
Egbetokun who spoke at the PPROs/Police Communication Experts’ Conference in Asaba, Delta State, stressed that the use of social media to address grievances often leads to misinformation and undermines the integrity of the police force.
“We appeal to the public not to resort to social media when reporting the conduct of police officers but rather use the Police Complaints Response Unit,” Egbetokun said.
He stressed that such platforms provide a more structured and accountable process for addressing complaints, acknowledging the role social media plays in shaping public opinion, he warned that unverified information could create false perceptions.
He highlighted the importance of promoting transparency and accountability within the police force, noting that the police consider the media a critical partner in this effort.
