The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has condemned the involvement of Nigerian police officers in protecting foreign hackers arrested for cybercrimes, describing their actions as “illegal.”

The statement follows the Nigeria Police Force’s announcement on November 4 that 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals and 17 Nigerian accomplices, were arrested for hacking and high-level cybercrimes threatening national security.

The group, primarily composed of Chinese and Malaysian nationals, had been under police protection before their arrest, a revelation that prompted outrage within the force.

Egbetokun confirmed on Monday that the officers involved had been apprehended and were currently in detention.

“These policemen were on illegal duty. They were not properly deployed for this assignment, and their actions have been disowned by their commander,” said Egbetokun, speaking at a workshop on the standardisation of criminal investigations.

He assured the public that the officers involved would face appropriate disciplinary actions for their misconduct.

Egbetokun explained, “I have clarified that the police escorts in question were not officially assigned by the police authority, but were instead found carrying out unauthorised duties. They were discovered escorting arrested foreigners.”

He added, “Their unit commanders have already denied sending them on such duties. Therefore, these officers were performing illegal tasks and will face the appropriate consequences.”

However, he emphasized that certain individuals in society, such as employers and prominent businessmen, are entitled to police protection.

Egbetokun said, “This does not negate the fact that we must provide security for certain individuals. There are VIPs that the police are tasked with protecting. Large business owners, employers of labor, and individuals who employ thousands of Nigerians deserve protection. If anything were to happen to them, it could have serious repercussions for their businesses and the country’s unemployment rate.”

He continued, “We assess their societal standing and their contributions to the economy to determine whether they require police protection.”

The Inspector General also addressed the issue of police officers being attached to individuals who are not entitled to police protection.

He stated, “Some of the officers seen with people who do not qualify for police protection were not officially deployed by the police. Many of them were picked from the streets. We are taking steps to address this issue.”

Egbetokun added, “I recently issued a directive stating that any officer found in such situations will be traced back to their source, and their commander or supervisor will be held accountable.”

He said, “With the measures we’ve implemented, I am confident we will see a reduction in such incidents.”

Egbetokun also cautioned against the misuse of police escorts.

He said, “It’s important to note that there are instances where individuals apply for escorts, and upon investigation, they are found to be deserving of them. In such cases, we grant the escorts. However, if these individuals misuse the escorts, we withdraw them immediately.

“We have encountered situations where individuals who are entitled to escorts abuse that privilege,” Egbetokun added.