POLICE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SEARCH PEOPLE’S PHONES – LAGOS CENTRAL POLICE

Babatunji Wusu –

In a decisive declaration about the behavior of police officers, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fayoade Adegoke stated that police personnel are not allowed to examine the phones of Nigerian residents.

During his recent visit to Melody FM, 107.7FM, at Iyana-Ipaja on Wednesday, he gave this directive.

Commissioner Adegoke emphasized in a statement signed by Kunle Babarinde and posted by Melody FM management on Sunday that the Police Force has a dedicated cyber division that handles these types of cases.

He made it clear that if a police officer has any reason to suspect someone, the correct course of action is to bring them to the police station so that their phone can be checked under the right guidelines and supervision.

In addition, he restated the fact that bail is still unrestricted and urged the public to report any instances of police corruption.

The Commissioner of Police was quoted, “If you feel you have been cheated by a policeman or a policeman engaged in corruption, kindly report the policeman to his DPO. If the DPO is not forthcoming, report to the Area Commander. I believe your case will be solved but if you still feel cheated, please report to me directly. My phone number is open to all Lagosians.

“No policeman has the right to beat citizens. You, the people, are the government’s employers; your taxes support us. Thus, we have to treat you with the appropriate decency.

“On the issue of searching phones, no policeman has the right to search your phone. If a policeman suspects anything on your phone, he will take you to the station to search the phone. We have a cyber department that deals with all that.”