The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, is not opposed to citizens recording police officers in public, but is concerned about the misuse of such recordings.
The Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, made the clarification in a series of posts on X on Saturday, following criticism of the IGP’s recent comments on Nigerians filming police officers.
Giwa said Disu’s position had been misinterpreted, stressing that the police were not seeking to shield officers from accountability or deny citizens their rights.
“The IGP’s concern is not to shield Police officers from accountability or deny citizens their rights. Instead, it focuses on the misuse of recordings, especially when officers are provoked, ridiculed, filmed for entertainment, or subjected to unnecessary intrusion while performing their duties,” he said.
He said a distinction should be drawn between responsible documentation of police activities and the deliberate exploitation of encounters with officers for social media content.
According to him, legitimate recordings could protect both citizens and police officers, particularly when evidence is needed to establish misconduct or defend officers against false allegations.
“As a public institution, the Police must remain open to legitimate scrutiny. Evidence is essential when an officer acts improperly. Similarly, responsible recording can protect officers from false allegations and support investigations,” Giwa said.
He, however, maintained that police officers retained their right to dignity and privacy, despite wearing the uniform.
“However, wearing the uniform does not remove an officer’s right to dignity or privacy,” he added.
The clarification followed an X user’s criticism of the IGP’s position and suggestion that the police should equip officers with body cameras if they were opposed to citizens recording them.
Responding, Giwa said Disu had not rejected the practice of recording police officers generally, but was addressing the misuse of recordings.
“While you are allowed to interpret it as you see fit, the message from the IGP was concerning the misuse of recordings, not a general rejection of legitimate documentation or accountability,” he said.
He also confirmed that body cameras were being considered as part of discussions on accountable policing.
“Body cameras are, in fact, part of the broader conversation about modern, accountable policing, and they can protect both citizens and officers,” Giwa said.
“The police need to be accountable and citizens should exercise their rights in a responsible way, we can have that discussion without using insults. The end aim is the same, a more professional Police Force and a safer Nigeria,” he said.
He also rejected the framing of the controversy as a confrontation between the police and the public or between the IGP and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“Instead, it should focus on balancing accountability with responsibility, transparency with privacy, and citizens’ rights with the professional discharge of Police duties,” he said.
The clarification followed a recent courtesy visit by NBA leadership to Disu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where the issue of recording police officers was discussed.
Disu had described the filming of police officers, particularly for social media skits, as “very, very demoralising” for members of the Force, while acknowledging citizens’ right to record officers performing their duties in public.
“We are not saying they cannot exercise their rights of recording officers in the public places while doing their jobs,” he had said.
“But they should put restraints and not turn our police officers to content for their skits or anything,” he added.
The comments sparked criticism from lawyers, human rights groups and other Nigerians, who insisted that citizens had a constitutional right to document police officers while they were performing their duties in public.
NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, had also called for a distinction between legitimate recording of police activities and intrusion into officers’ private lives.
The controversy followed a March 17 judgment of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed Nigerians’ right to record police officers while performing their duties in public.
Giwa said the engagement between the IGP and NBA leadership demonstrated that institutions could disagree while still working constructively towards solutions.
“The engagement between the IGP and NBA leadership demonstrates that strong institutions can engage constructively, clarify positions, and collaborate despite differing perspectives,” he said.
He added that the solution was not for either the police or citizens to fear the use of cameras, but to promote responsible technology use and professional conduct.
“In the digital age, the solution is not to fear the camera. Instead, we should use technology responsibly, uphold professionalism, and let truth, rather than social media narratives, define the conversation,” Giwa said.
“The camera should not weaken the institution. Also, institutions should not fear legitimate scrutiny. Both must ultimately serve the truth, justice, and the Nigerian people,” he added.