The Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has disowned policemen protecting some foreigners recently arrested for cybercrimes in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Egbetokun, who spoke at a workshop on Monday, said the policemen were on an illegal duty as they were not officially deployed.
At the workshop organised for the standardisation of criminal investigations for Heads of Police Investigation Units nationwide in Abuja, he clarified that the police officers involved had been arrested and were currently being detained along with their Unit Commanders.
He said: “And the fact that some policemen were also seen protecting these foreigners.
“Yes, it is true.
“And the policemen have been arrested.
“We found out that the policemen were on illegal duty.
“Nobody deployed them.
“They were not properly deployed for that assignment.”
Egbetokun said their Commanders equally disowned them, adding: “I have explained that those police escorts were not formally deployed by the police authority, but they were found performing illegal duty.
“And they have already been found escorting the arrested foreigners.
“Already in our custody, their unit commanders have denied that they did not send them.
“So they were performing illegal duties, and they will be dealt with accordingly.”
On November 4, the Nigeria Police Force announced the arrest of 130 suspects linked to high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities threatening national security.
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The group included 113 foreign nationals made up of 87 men and 26 women, mainly from China and Malaysia, as well as 17 Nigerians.
Egbetokun, however, said there were individuals in the society, especially employers of labour and big businessmen, who deserved police protection.
He said: “That, again, does not remove the fact that we have to deploy for the protection of certain individuals in our society.
“There are VIPs that the police have to protect.
“There are big businessmen, employers of labour.
“There are individuals who have thousands of Nigerians in their organisations.
“Such individuals deserve protection.
“Because if anything happens to them, you can imagine what will happen to their businesses.
“You can imagine the effects that is going to have on the unemployment rates in our country.
“So, such individuals, we look at their position in society.
“We look at what they contribute to the economy of the country.
“And we decide whether they need police protection or not.”
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