JUST IN: Nîgeria Police Chief Explains Why There Is No Arrësts for Sürrêndering Båndîts
JUST IN: Nîgeria Police Chief Explains Why There Is No Arrësts for Sürrêndering Båndîts
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has dëfended the Nigeria Police Force’s decision not to arrëst bãndîts who voluntarily lay döwn their wëapons, explaining that the strategy is part of a broader effort cömbinîng both military operations and rëconcîliation.
According to Egbetokun, law enforcement openly welcomes båndits who gënuinely dëcide to sürrender. He clarified that those who come forward to embrace peace are not automatically crîminalised, stressing that “båndîts seeking to embrace peace … will not be arrësted voluntarily.” This, he argues, reinforces a path away from vîolënce and encourages reintegration.
At the same time, the IGP was clear that the government’s tolerance only extends to those who genuinely sürrender. He emphasised that “operations against those who refuse to surrender continue without pause,” particularly in states like Katsina and Zamfara.
The policy, Egbetokun explained, is meant to cut off active resistance from bandits who reject reconciliation and persist in cömmitting viölênce.
This dual-track strategy has drawn widespread scrutiny and criticism. Many Nîgerians say that the decision not to arrest rêpentant bandîts rãises serious concerns over accountability, especially in light of past atrocities — rånging from child abdüctions to attacks on churches — allegedly committed by those same gröups.
Civil society organisations have voiced ãlarm at what they describe as a dãngerous precedent. According to one watchdog group, by offering amnesty without ensuring justice, the state rîsks emboldening dãngerous actors. Some critics say the approach undermines the rule of law, suggesting that some gövernments and security forces may be lêgitimising vîolênce in the name of peace.
For his part, Egbetokun has defended the policy’s legal and moral foundations, pointing out that it reflects the police’s respect for rights and lawful processes. He argues that when bãndîts surrender, they cease to be enemies and can instead become former crîminals seeking a sêcond chance.
The IGP also reiterated earlier wãrnings he issued to officers, urging them to avoîd unlawful dêtentions or prölonging custody of suspects beyond what is legally allowed — a reminder rooted in his longer-term reform agenda for the police.
The crîticism, however, doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Some point to the role of gövernors in facilitating these talks, questioning whether state leaders may be normalising wãnted individuals through public peace parley.
Despite the controversies, Egbetokun maintains that the strategy remains central to Nîgeria’s seçurity policy: a mix of “stick and carrot” in which peaceful surrender is rewarded while active rêsistance faces förce.
