A coalition of Nigerian youth, student, and civil society organizations has demanded the immediate firing of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, citing recent allegations of police brutality that have emerged under his command.
This demand follows the arrest and alleged mistreatment of Dickson Akoh, Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), and other officers, which they argue showcases an increase in abusive practices within the police.
At an emergency press conference in Abuja, coalition leaders criticized the IGP for supposedly instigating Akoh’s arrest over a tenancy issue.
Reports indicate that armed officers, along with thugs, raided the Peace Corps headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, forcibly entering Akoh’s office and apprehending him and 16 staff members.
Eyewitness accounts describe how these officers vandalized property and ransacked offices before detaining Akoh.
Coalition representatives, including Blessing Akinlosotu, former National Youth Council President Murtala Mohammed, and Ademario Emmanuel from the Coalition of Nigeria Youth on Security and Safety Affairs, set a deadline for the IGP to release Akoh and the other detained personnel by October 28, 2024, and to issue an apology to both the Peace Corps and the NSCDC.
They asserted, “The Nigeria Police Force, under IGP Egbetokun, is becoming a tool of terror against the people of Nigeria. We demand urgent corrective measures to prevent a large-scale peaceful protest by youth, students, and civil society at the National Assembly and police headquarters if our demands are not addressed.”
The coalition also called for the reopening of the Peace Corps headquarters, which was reportedly shut down following the arrests, to facilitate the resumption of its operations.