Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, raising concerns over leadership within the force and the handling of security incidents.
In a post on X, Sowore questioned the continued tenure of the police chief, citing what he described as declining morale among officers.
“When will this retired, tired, incompetent, corrupt, and illegal Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, finally be shown the way out of the Police Headquarters?” Sowore wrote.
He added, “Morale within the force has collapsed under his watch. He has reduced the institution to a trivialised caricature, trivialising the Nigeria Police Force and running it completely into the ground.”
Sowore also linked his concerns to public confidence and the professionalism of officers, saying, “The damage is evident not only in the growing loss of public trust but also in the deep frustration of officers who see the little ‘professionalism’ left replaced by decay, illegality, and impunity at the very top.”
The comments followed the police’s reversal on the Kaduna church abductions after initially denying the attacks.
Sowore questioned the force’s earlier response, asking, “How could the Nigeria Police Force deny the obvious church abductions in Kajuru, Kaduna, for close to one week?”
Reports indicate that a gang of bandits attacked multiple churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Sunday, abducting over 100 worshippers during services.
The Chairman of the 19 Northern States chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Hayab, later confirmed the abduction, stating that 172 worshippers were taken, with some returning, leaving 163 still in captivity.
The Kaduna State government initially denied the incident, claiming no Christian worshippers were kidnapped during Sunday services.
The state police command also refuted the reports.
Briefing journalists after a security meeting, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, and the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, described the reports as falsehoods spread by conflict entrepreneurs.
However, the Nigeria Police Force later confirmed the abduction at Kurmin Wali following verification from operational units and credible intelligence sources, effectively reversing its earlier stance.
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