Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has urged Nigerians to exercise restraint when recording police officers with their mobile phones, particularly when such footage is intended for skits or online content.
Drivetvnews gathered that Disu raised the concern on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, and members of the NBA executive committee.
The meeting focused on improving relations between lawyers and police officers and finding ways to prevent recurring clashes between both professions.
According to the IGP, a recent court judgment concerning the recording of police officers had led to increased filming of officers by members of the public.
He said the development had become demoralising for many officers, adding that some people had allegedly begun recording police personnel even while they were off duty in places such as restaurants.
Disu, however, acknowledged that citizens have the right to record police officers carrying out their duties in public places.
He urged members of the public to exercise restraint and avoid turning police officers into content for skits or other entertainment purposes.
The police chief also highlighted the challenging conditions faced by officers deployed to checkpoints and isolated locations, noting that some personnel work in remote forests, bushes and highways for extended periods while protecting the public.
Reacting to the issue, the NBA president said a distinction should be made between legitimate documentation of police activities and recording officers in situations involving their personal privacy.
Badejo-Okusanya said transparency in the lawful performance of police duties should nevertheless be maintained.
She pointed to the use of body cameras by police officers in the United States as an example of how recording can promote accountability and help identify misconduct.
The NBA president said the solution was not to completely stop recording police officers but to establish clearer boundaries regarding privacy and the lawful documentation of police activities.
She also stressed the importance of cooperation between lawyers and the police, describing both professions as partners in promoting a safe society and respect for the rule of law.
