The Nigeria Police Force has affirmed that citizens have the right to video and photograph police officers while on duty. In response to a complaint raised by a user on social media, where he alleged being extorted N10,000 for recording officers during a stop-and-search operation, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, reiterated that capturing videos or photos of police activities is not considered an offence.
The user, identified as @Boy_Cyril, sought clarification on the legality of recording during stop-and-search, citing an incident where he claimed to have been forced to pay a sum of N10,000 to retrieve his phone. Adejobi emphasized that the Nigeria police force has consistently communicated that there is no wrongdoing in citizens documenting law enforcement activities. He encouraged individuals who experience harassment from police officers in such situations to report the incidents to the appropriate authorities.
Adejobi further assured the public that they can freely document police officers on duty and urged those who encounter any form of intimidation or extortion for recording to escalate the matter by sending an SMS to his contact or via email to [email protected].
Additionally, he suggested reaching out to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for assistance in addressing such cases.
IMAGE: TalksonLaw
