Nigeria IGP urges restraint in recording police for social media skits

Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has called on Nigerians to exercise restraint when recording police officers, stating that the practice of using footage for social media skits is “very, very demoralising” for personnel.

Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) executive committee and its president, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, Disu noted that a recent court judgment regarding the recording of officers has led to increased surveillance by citizens. He reported that individuals are now recording officers in various settings, including during private moments or while eating in restaurants.

While Disu acknowledged that citizens maintain the right to record officers performing their duties in public places, he urged the public not to use such recordings for entertainment, ridicule, or social media content. He highlighted the difficult and often dangerous conditions under which officers operate, such as at checkpoints in isolated or forested areas.