The Nigeria Police has declared that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has not banned citizens from taking videos or photos of police officers.
He has instead urged restraint against turning such recordings into social media skits or entertainment content.
Background and IGP’s Comments
The issue arose after a March 17, 2026, Federal High Court judgment in Warri, Delta State (in the case of Maxwell Uwaifo v. Inspector-General of Police). Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa affirmed Nigerians’ constitutional right to record police officers performing duties in public spaces and directed officers to display their names and force numbers while on duty.
During a meeting with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leaders at Force Headquarters in Abuja, Disu expressed concern that the ruling had led some people to film officers indiscriminately—including in non-official settings such as restaurants. He described the trend as “very, very demoralising” for officers who already face demanding conditions.
Disu explicitly acknowledged the right to record:
“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.”
Police Clarification
On September 12, 2026, Force New Media Officer Aliyu Giwa clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the IGP does not oppose legitimate recording of officers on public duty. The concern centres on misuse—such as recordings meant to provoke, ridicule, create entertainment, or intrude unnecessarily.
Giwa stressed that the police remain open to accountability and that responsible filming can protect both citizens (by documenting misconduct) and officers (by countering false allegations). He noted that officers retain rights to dignity and privacy, and that body cameras form part of broader discussions on modern policing. The Force urged a balanced conversation focused on accountability alongside responsibility, rather than framing it as police versus the public.
Reactions
- NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya supported the right to record officers on official public duty while calling for clearer boundaries to protect officers’ privacy when off-duty.
- Human rights groups (including Amnesty International’s Isa Sanusi and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights) and the African Action Congress backed unrestricted recording for transparency and accountability, arguing officers on public duty cannot claim privacy to block documentation. They cited Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (freedom of expression).
- Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) reiterated that the court judgment remains binding and that citizens may lawfully record officers on duty in public.
In short, there is no ban on filming or photographing police officers performing their duties in public. The IGP’s message focuses on responsible use of that right rather than its elimination. The debate continues amid calls for body cameras and clearer guidelines on the limits of recording.
About the Author
