The Nigeria Police Force through its spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has clarified that its force operatives are not permitted to engage in illegal stop and search of citizens phones, while urging Nigerians to expose the operatives guilty of such acts.
This position was reiterated after Nigerians complained on X that police officers still stop and search citizen’s phones despite the ban and strict warning from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
This concern was raised on Tuesday by an X user, Silva Nimi, who questioned Adejobi on why police officers keep checking the citizens’ phones.
The post read, “Bro, why are your men after young boys in the street. What did we do wrong ?What did they keep in our phones “ that they want to check and search for all the time?”
In response, Adejobi described the action as unprofessional, insisting that it is illegal for operatives on routine patrol to inspect citizens’ phones.
He said they have many experiences but it is disheartening that many victims are undermining the force efforts to punish the culprits.
He said a scapegoat was all the force needed to deter other officers from engaging in such. He also mentioned that some Nigerians prevent him from punishing the guilty officers but that won’t stop him from acting.
The scapegoat position draws the question, do Police officers only listen when punishment has been meted out to a fellow colleague? Are the directives of the IGP no longer effective?
