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"Shocking: Police Officers Caught Protecting Foreign Hackers on Illegal Duty, Says IG"

In a shocking revelation, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed that police officers were providing protection for foreign hackers involved in high-level cybercrime, despite being on illegal duty. Egbetokun disclosed this while addressing participants at a workshop organized for the standardization of criminal investigations on Monday.

Earlier, on November 4, the Nigeria Police Force announced the arrest of 130 suspects linked to cybercrimes, hacking, and threats to national security. Among those arrested were 113 foreign nationals, predominantly from China and Malaysia, along with 17 Nigerian collaborators. However, a report by The Punch revealed that the foreign criminals were receiving protection from Nigerian police officers prior to their arrest.

Reacting to the investigation, Egbetokun stated, “The fact that some policemen were seen protecting these foreigners is true. The officers involved have been arrested and are currently being detained. We discovered that they were on illegal duty, and no official deployment had been made for their assignment.”

Illegal Protection and Consequences

The Inspector General emphasized that the police command had not authorized these officers to protect the foreign hackers. According to Egbetokun, their unit commanders disowned them, and the officers are now facing disciplinary action. “Their commanders denied deploying them. These policemen were performing illegal duties, and they will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Despite the illegal conduct of some officers, Egbetokun clarified that police escorts remain necessary for certain individuals, such as VIPs, prominent businessmen, and employers of large workforces. He highlighted that these individuals contribute significantly to the economy and may require protection to ensure their safety and continued economic activity.

Addressing Police Misconduct

Egbetokun also acknowledged that some police officers are attached to individuals who do not merit protection, but these officers were not formally deployed by police authorities. “Some officers you see attached to people who don’t deserve protection were not officially deployed. Many were picked off the streets,” he said.

The IG assured the public that measures are being taken to address this issue. Recently, Egbetokun issued a directive that any police officer found providing unauthorized protection would be traced to their command, and their supervisors would be held accountable. He expressed confidence that such incidents would significantly reduce with the implementation of these measures.

Caution Against Misuse of Police Escorts

While emphasizing the importance of police protection for deserving individuals, Egbetokun cautioned against the misuse of police escorts. He explained that in cases where escorts are deemed necessary, investigations are conducted to verify the need. However, when individuals misuse these privileges, the police promptly withdraw the assigned escorts.

“There are cases where people who genuinely deserve police escorts end up misusing them. In such cases, we don’t hesitate to withdraw the escorts,” the IG added.

Clarifying the Arrest of Minors

Egbetokun also addressed recent criticism surrounding the arrest of minors, clarifying that these individuals were not arrested for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests but for engaging in looting and vandalism. He reiterated that the police did not arrest peaceful protesters but acted to detain those who took advantage of the protests to commit criminal acts.

“The narrative that these minors were arrested for participating in protests is completely false. The police arrested criminals who looted, destroyed public infrastructure, and committed arson. No protesters were arrested,” Egbetokun asserted.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in pardoning the minors but stressed that the police had acted within their mandate to protect the public and uphold the law.

Moving Forward

With the arrest of the officers involved in the illegal protection of foreign hackers, Egbetokun reaffirmed the police force's commitment to upholding the law and addressing internal misconduct. He also urged the public to be wary of misleading narratives surrounding police actions, particularly in cases involving criminal activity disguised as protests.

The revelations come as the police force faces increasing scrutiny over its role in ensuring national security and combating cybercrime. With stricter measures in place, the Inspector General remains confident that the integrity of the force will be restored, and instances of police misconduct will be drastically reduced.