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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has urged the citizenry to stop recording police personnel on duty, saying the growing practice is “very, very demoralising” for members of the force.
The police boss made the appeal when he hosted the new executive committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya in Abuja.
A video of the meeting was shared by TV Platinum on Wednesday.
Disu said a recent court judgement on the recording of police officers on duty has raised concerns within the force, noting that more citizens have begun to tape police officers at work.
“The recent judgement on recording of police officers, that one really jolted our officers. And it became something of concern to us because the citizens started coming out with their phones to record police officers everywhere they saw them,” he stated.
The IGP added that the practice has now extended beyond normal police operations, stating that some people now record police personnel even in restaurants, which constitutes invasion of privacy.
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Disu acknowledged the right of citizens to record police officers on duty but maintained that such must be exercised with restraint and decorum.
“Everywhere you see a police man, start recording a police man. So this is something that was very, very demoralising to us,” the IGP said.
He added, “We are not saying they cannot exercise their rights of recording officers in the public places while doing their jobs.
“But they should put restraints and not turn our police officers to content for their skits or anything.”
The police boss explained that police officers often undertake dangerous missions to protect the public and should be encouraged.
