Nigeria Police Force clarifies stance on citizens recording officers

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a clarification regarding recent comments by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu concerning citizens recording officers. New Media Officer Aliyu Giwa stated that the Inspector-General does not oppose the recording of police activities but is concerned about the misuse of such footage for social media skits, ridicule, or unnecessary intrusion while officers perform their duties.

Giwa emphasized that the police remain open to legitimate scrutiny and that responsible documentation can protect both citizens and officers by providing evidence for investigations. However, he noted that officers retain rights to dignity and privacy while in uniform.

In response, three Senior Advocates of Nigeria—Olu Daramola, Olalekan Ojo, and Isiaka Olagunju—asserted that Nigerians have a legal right to record officers in public spaces. Daramola cited a Federal High Court judgment in the case of Maxwell Uwaifor v IG, which ruled that such documentation is protected under the constitutional right to freedom of expression. The court ruling also directed that officers must display visible name tags and force numbers, and prohibited the seizure of mobile phones or the deletion of recorded footage.