The Nigerian Police Force, for Edo State Command has banned its officers on routine patrol, and stop and search duties from searching the phones of civilians.
The Edo State Police spokesman, SP Chidi Nwabuzor had on Friday, April 5, released a statement detailing this announcement.
According to Nwabuzor, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, had warned police officers and his men avoid such conduct, as instructed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
He also further remarked that IGP Egbetokun had asked Zonal Assistant Inspectors-Generals (AIGs), Command and Formation Commanders (CPs), to oversee their staff and duly punish errant officials.
The statement read:
“This press release is to inform the general public particularly the law abiding citizens of Edo State of the State Police Command’s latest stance in regards to searching of citizens’ phones by the operatives while on routine patrol stop and search duties in the state.”
Nwabuzor had stated that the CP has seriously cautioned officers and soldiers to desist from this unprofessional conduct of inspecting phones, adding that any officer found doing such would face severe sanctions.
The public had also been urged to be patient with the police and report any officer who engaged in unethical behaviour to these specific phone numbers: 07037376464, 08140275108, 08033726625, and 08164523045 respectively.
