The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, has warned officers under his command against searching the mobile phones of members of the public, while also affirming that citizens have the right to record police officers at work.
Fatai issued the directive warning officers against searching the phones of individuals, while also affirming the public’s right to record police activities. He emphasised that officers must conduct themselves professionally at all times, noting that transparency should not be a concern for those acting within the law.
“Nigerian police officers have been warned not to search any individual’s phone. Anybody can record any police officer at his duty post. As long as the officer is doing the right thing, there is nothing to fear about being recorded,” he said.
He further encouraged officers to adopt similar transparency by documenting their own activities on duty. “Police officers can also start recording their own activities,” he added.
According to Peoples Gazette, this directive comes weeks after a viral incident involving officers from the Anti-Cultism Squad in Lagos. The CP had ordered the detention of some anti-cultism officers following a video showing one officer struggling for possession of a phone belonging to a harassed victim, while another attempted to seize the phone of a bystander who was recording the incident at the Ojuelegba Underbridge area of Lagos.
Since assuming office as the 42nd Commissioner of Police in late March, Fatai has consistently signalled a zero-tolerance stance on misconduct, warning that any officer caught extorting members of the public “will be dealt with ruthlessly” and pledging that all complaints would be thoroughly investigated with sanctions publicly disclosed.
The latest directive is seen as part of a broader push to rebuild public trust in the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos, where citizens have repeatedly clashed with officers over unlawful phone searches and harassment.
