IGP blames internal security threat on corruption, impunity within governance structure

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has blamed the internal security threat in the country on the pervasive culture of corruption and impunity within Nigeria’s governance structure.

Egbetokun made this known while delivering a lecture entitled “The Nigeria Police Force and the Management of Internal Security” at the inaugural Personality Lecture of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan at Trenchard Hall, Ibadan, on Monday.

He disclosed that several lives and properties had been lost to the internal security threat across the six geo-political zones of the country.

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This development, according to him, resulted in the 2023 Global Terrorism Index placing the country in 8th position out of the ten countries most affected by terrorism.

Additionally, the Global Peace Index ranked the country in 144th position out of 163 countries.

Egbetokun attributed the ratings to the activities of ISWAP in the North West, Boko Haram in the North East, and IPOB in the South East, noting that these have affected the socio-economic growth of the country.

He, however, added that there is significant progress as the security situation has improved tremendously across the country.

The IGP said that, in order to address the situation, the police authorities under his leadership have adopted three strategic policing models: confrontation, suppression, and accommodation.

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According to him, these models have assisted in reducing crime rates across the country, adding that a sizeable number of suspected kidnappers were nabbed in Abuja.

To complement the efforts of the police, the IGP called on the Federal Government to sustain its commitment to ongoing reform efforts within the Nigeria Police Force.

According to him, “The government should allocate sufficient budgetary resources to the police force to address equipment needs, improve infrastructure, and enhance training programs.

“Community policing initiatives should be expanded and institutionalized across all states in Nigeria.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, commended the efforts of the IGP in addressing the security situation in the country.

He underscored the role of the police in ensuring the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry.