The Edo State Police Command has reaffirmed its stance against officers searching citizens’ phones during routine patrols and operations, labeling the act as “unprofessional conduct.”
This declaration was made by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, in a statement released on the command’s official Facebook page on Friday.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police for the state, CP Funsho Adegboye, emphasized the directive from the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to penalize officers found engaging in such behavior.
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In the statement, CP Adegboye emphasized that officers are strictly prohibited from conducting phone searches during patrols, stop and search operations, or any other essential duties.
He emphasized that officers may only search citizens’ phones when executing a court order from a competent jurisdiction as part of an investigation.
CP Adegboye warned officers against this unprofessional behavior, stating that severe sanctions would be imposed on any officer caught violating the directive.
He urged the public to report any officer engaged in such conduct and emphasized the importance of patience when dealing with the police.
This announcement echoes a similar statement made by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, in January, where he asserted that no police officer is authorized to search the phones of Nigerian citizens.
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