Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
The Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP) Funsho Adegboye, has warned officers and men of the state command against searching of citizens phones while on duty.
The warning was dished out during a meeting with the Command’s Strategic Security Managers.
CP Adegboye re-echoed the directive of Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) on the ban on searching of citizens’ phones while on Patrol, Raid Operations, Stop and Search duties or other essential duties.
Recall that the IGP has earlier given instructions to zonal AIGs, Commands and formations CPs to monitor their personnel and punish erring officers found searching of citizen’s phone while on duties.
In a press statement signed by the image maker of the command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor said that CP Adegboye warned that on no account should Police Officers/operatives engage in searching citizens’ phones in line of duties.
CP Adegboye who had served in various capacity at the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, Liberia, East Timor and Afican Union Mission in Somalia said that officers can only be allowed to search citizens’ phones when executing court order from the court of competent jurisdiction as it empower them to carry out such duties therein in the course of investigation.
He however vehemently warns officers and men to desist from this unprofessional conduct of searching phones that any officer caught doing so will face the sledge hammer of the law.
He therefore urges the general public to be patient with the police and report any officer who indulges in unprofessional conduct.