IGP in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday, claimed that the children “staged” the fainting to attract negative reactions.
The Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre (RULAAC) has lambasted the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, for contradicting himself in the case of the malnourished minors detained and prosecuted for alleged treason because they participated in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
SaharaReporters had reported that after the malnourished children slumped in an Abuja High Court last Friday during their arraignment, the IGP in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday, claimed that the children “staged” the fainting to attract negative reactions.
Egbetokun also argued that the minors destroyed government property during the protests.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters also earlier reported that Egbetokun had summoned some top senior officers, including all DCs and Heads of Investigation Units over bad welfare and poor state of the minors detained since August for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
SaharaReporters reported that following their rejection at Kuje Prison, the malnourished minors were detained by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in a facility meant for adults at the Intelligence Response Team unit in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory.
But on Monday, President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the underage children following national and international outrage and condemnation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said the contrasting statements from the IGP regarding the malnourished children raises significant concerns about the police's commitment to the rule of law and their ability to act impartially above political interests.
Nwanguma said, “Initially, IGP Kayode Egbetokun characterized the children's collapse as a "scripted" act aimed at creating negative public sentiment.
“This portrayal minimizes legitimate concerns regarding the treatment of these vulnerable individuals and suggests a reluctance to acknowledge potential misconduct within the police.
“Following public outcry and the President’s directives for the release and rehabilitation of the children, the IGP announced an investigation into the welfare of the children in police custody.”
The RULAAC boss said that while the shift may signal an awareness of the issues at hand, it also raises questions about the sincerity of the initial dismissal.
“Would the IGP have made this sudden U-turn had the president not responded and acted in deference to public pressure?” he questioned.
According to him, the initial assertion that the children were performing a stunt undermines the credibility of the police.
He said, “This inconsistency creates skepticism about their motives and willingness to prioritize ethical standards.
“The contrasting statements suggest a potential prioritization of regime or political interests over the legal and ethical treatment of detainees.
“If the police are seen as protecting the interests of the state rather than upholding the law and ensuring justice, public trust erodes.
“Such duplicity can lead to a perception that the police are more concerned with managing public opinion than addressing systemic failures in how they handle detainees, especially minors.
“The sum of my view is that the conflicting messages from the IGP illustrate a troubling dynamic within law enforcement, where narratives can shift in response to public pressure rather than a genuine commitment to justice and humanitarian principles.”
He noted, “For the police to maintain credibility and uphold the rule of law, they must demonstrate consistent accountability and transparency in their actions, particularly regarding vulnerable populations such as detained minors.”