IGP Bans Police Officers from Social Media, Threatens Dismissal

• The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has issued a sweeping directive banning all serving personnel of the Nigeria Police Force from engaging in unauthorised social media activities, warning that violators risk dismissal, demotion, salary forfeiture and possible prosecution.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has issued a sweeping directive banning all serving personnel of the Nigeria Police Force from engaging in unauthorised social media activities, warning that violators risk dismissal, demotion, salary forfeiture and possible prosecution. The directive affects officers using platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other social media channels for content creation while identifying as members of the police force. The order was contained in an internal circular dated June 22, 2026, marked “Restricted – For Official Use Only,” and addressed to senior police authorities nationwide, including zonal Assistant Inspectors-General, Commissioners of Police, commanders of the Police Mobile Force and other units. The circular, referenced SB:4065/IGP.SEC/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/11, was issued from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.

According to the circular, the Force has observed an increasing trend of officers creating and publishing videos, conducting live sessions, and engaging in monetised content creation while in uniform or in situations that identify them as police personnel. The police chief raised concern over what he described as the growing trend of officers using social media platforms for personal entertainment, self-promotion, and commercial activities without official authorisation. The directive noted that some officers have turned social media into a platform for skits, monetised content, brand promotions and public commentary on sensitive police matters, which undermines the integrity and discipline expected of law enforcement personnel.

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The directive specifically prohibits officers from posting skits, photographs, live streams or any form of content in police uniform or within police facilities without written approval. It also bars officers from operating personal or anonymous accounts for entertainment or commercial purposes where such accounts exploit their identity as law enforcement personnel. The ban further extends to public commentary on sensitive police matters, including operations, investigations, deployments, promotions and disciplinary issues. Under the new order, officers are also prohibited from accepting sponsorships, endorsement deals or monetisation arrangements linked to their status as police officers. The circular reminded officers that their conduct is regulated by existing laws and policies, including the Nigeria Police Act 2020, the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy, Police Regulations, Police Service Commission disciplinary regulations and the Cybercrime Act.

In a significant enforcement measure, the IGP introduced vicarious liability, making senior officers responsible for monitoring the online activities of personnel under their command. Commissioners of Police, DPOs and other supervisory officers who fail to detect or report violations may also face disciplinary action. The circular warned that any supervisor who fails to detect, report or address violations could face disciplinary action alongside the offending officer. Commands across the country have been directed to implement the policy immediately, issue internal directives within seven days, and ensure all officers sign acknowledgement forms confirming receipt and understanding of the order. Compliance reports are expected within 14 days, detailing enforcement actions and monitoring strategies. The reports are to be submitted through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations.

The Force Intelligence Bureau and the X-Squad (Professional Standards Unit) have been tasked with monitoring social media platforms to identify violators. Officers already operating accounts linked to their identity as police personnel have been given a 14-day ultimatum to deactivate such accounts or remove all references to the Nigeria Police Force. The directive states that sanctions will include interdiction, salary forfeiture, demotion, dismissal and possible prosecution, depending on the severity of the offence. According to the circular, “The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined institution whose effectiveness depends on public trust, institutional integrity, and the professional conduct of every officer”. It added that the policy takes immediate effect nationwide as part of efforts to restore discipline, professionalism and public trust within the police force.

The directive comes less than a month after Disu cautioned content creators and members of the public against the indiscriminate recording and circulation of police-related videos. Speaking during an interactive session with crime correspondents in Abuja on May 31, 2026, the police chief said the recording and online publication of police operations without proper context could undermine security efforts and demoralise officers. The latest order also echoes a similar policy introduced by former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu on June 17, 2020, under which police personnel were prohibited from using photographs of themselves in uniform on personal social media accounts and from engaging in posts or discussions considered political, religious or capable of bringing the force into disrepute. That directive further barred most officers from identifying themselves as police personnel on social media, except designated spokespersons and senior officers authorised to speak on behalf of the force.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, issued a statement on Tuesday confirming the directive and quoted the IGP as emphasising that while social media remains an important tool for communication and public engagement, its use by serving officers must be guided by extant laws, regulations, and the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy. According to the statement, the IGP directed Commissioners of Police, Heads of Departments, Commanders, and other supervisory officers to immediately sensitise personnel under their commands and enforce strict adherence to the directive. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to discipline, professionalism, and responsible public communication, while assuring members of the public of its continued dedication to maintaining public trust and institutional integrity.

IGP Bans Police Officers from Social Media, Threatens Dismissal

Gwamnishu Confirms Arrest of Man Who Assaulted 18-Year-Old Wife 

• Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has confirmed that the man accused of assaulting an 18-year-old lady in a viral abuse video is currently in police custody. He also disclosed that she was taken away as a child and that her father was oblivious of any supposed marriage.

Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has confirmed that the man accused of assaulting an 18-year-old lady in a viral abuse video is now in police custody. He also disclosed that she was taken away as a child and that her father was unaware of any alleged marriage involving her. Gwamnishu confirmed the development in an update uploaded on Instagram on Tuesday, noting that preliminary results also suggested that the lady identified as ‘Chisom’ was 15 years old when her relationship with the suspect reportedly began. The update follows a horrific video that surfaced on Monday showing a clearly damaged young woman, thought to be an 18-year-old wife. The video showed the woman with apparent facial injuries as her husband exchanged words with neighbors who confronted him about the alleged violence.

A separate video emerged later, showing the woman with Gwamnishu in what looked to be a hospital. In the video, the activist discussed intentions to arrest the man, but the young woman pleaded against it. Providing an update, Gwamnishu said, “Preliminary findings indicate that Chisom was only 15 years old when the relationship between her and the man reportedly began”. He noted that he initially considered backing down after Chisom pleaded with him not to pursue the suspect’s arrest. “Yesterday, while she pleaded with us not to arrest the man claiming to be her husband, I almost backed down. However, something in me said, ‘Harrison, involve your Lagos team,'” he wrote. According to him, members of the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation’s Lagos chapter intervened, and the suspect was turned over to the Isheri Oshun Divisional Police Headquarters.

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“The suspect was handed over to Isheri Oshun Divisional Police Headquarters; his statement was obtained; he was detained; and officers also visited Chisom at the hospital,” Gwamnishu said. The activist also stated that he received a call from a relative of Chisom’s father, who claimed the young woman and her siblings were taken away after her mother died when she was seven years old. “Earlier today, I received a call from a relative of Chisom’s father, who narrated that Chisom was taken away after her mother died. She was just seven years old when members of her late mother’s family took her and her three siblings away,” he said. According to Gwamnishu, the relative informed him that Chisom’s father grew despondent after losing his wife and having his children taken away from him and that family members had not seen Chisom or two of her siblings until the viral video surfaced online.

“They also stated that he was never aware of any marriage involving Chisom and the man now claiming to be her husband,” Gwamnishu added. He noted that the organization would continue to support the young woman as investigations progress. “Why we cannot abandon 18-year-old Chisom. Her case is unusual, and she is deeply traumatized. Despite everything she has been through, she still needs support, protection, and understanding,” he wrote. Gwamnishu also stated that his Lagos State Director, Nta Amarachi Judith, was actively following up on the matter while the organization awaited the outcome of the police investigation.

Further findings by the activist revealed that there was never any legal or traditional marriage between Chisom and the suspect. Gwamnishu explained that the suspect, who had lived abroad, returned to Nigeria and began a relationship with Chisom when she was just 15 years old. According to him, the man went to Anambra State, paid money to someone as dowry, and claimed Chisom as his wife, an arrangement not recognised under any legal or traditional system. “There was never a marriage. The marriage they had was fake. So they are not husband and wife officially, legally, traditionally, anything you feel like calling it. Somebody in Anambra State took bride price and gave out this young girl to this guy”. Gwamnishu further explained that Chisom is calmer now compared to the previous day and emphasised that she needs counselling and therapy. He thanked the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and others who stepped in to rescue her, saying she is a victim who requires full support. The activist also noted that the suspect’s sisters were pleading with authorities not to allow her return to him, a sign that she remains at risk. Chisom has now been taken into the care of the Lagos State Ministry for Women Affairs, which will handle her welfare and accommodation.

Gwamnishu Confirms Arrest of Man Who Assaulted 18-Year-Old Wife 

VeryDarkMan in Trouble as Court Orders DSS to Investigate Leaked Coup Trial Evidence

• The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Services to investigate allegations that evidence tendered in the trial of six men accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration was displayed on social media by controversial activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate allegation by the prosecution that part of the evidence it tendered in court and served on lawyers to the six men being prosecuted for allegedly attempting to execute a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu were displayed on social media by controversial activist, VeryDarkMan. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also ordered that if there was any evidence on social media, which contravened the court’s earlier order for witnesses’ protection, the DSS should investigate and bring the perpetrator to book. The judge said the investigation should be conducted while the trial is ongoing since all the defendants, through their lawyers, denied being involved.

Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, had mid-way into proceedings told the court that he got information that some videos tendered in the case were posted on social media by a citizen called VeryDarkMan. He informed the court that the same individual was among the audience. Oyedepo told the court that he watched the video on VeryDarkMan’s social media page and described the development as a national security concern. He noted that the post had garnered more than 6,000 online views and argued that the leak was extremely prejudicial to the proceedings. He further informed the court that VeryDarkMan was present in the courtroom and could potentially explain how he obtained the video.

When asked by the judge to respond, all the six defence lawyers took turns to deny any knowledge of how the video appeared on social media. Counsel to the first defendant, Mohammed Ndayako, a SAN, expressed support for an investigation, stating that his worry was that this was coming at the stage when they were trying to move their bail application, and he was not opposed to an investigation. While some defence lawyers suggested that members of the media covering the trial should also be investigated, counsel to the sixth defendant, Sanusi Musa, a SAN, outrightly opposed the proposal for a probe. He argued that he was surprised that the DPP said the court should investigate the matter and questioned who the suspects were, suggesting that the video might have been leaked from the court, by the DPP, or from the Ministry of Justice. He insisted that whatever the DPP said could not be acted upon without evidence and that if the prosecution wanted an investigation, they should file a formal application.

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Ruling on the issue, Justice Abdulmalik cited provisions of Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, relating to the protection of vulnerable witnesses and compliance with court orders. The judge subsequently directed the Department of State Services to investigate any evidence on social media that may have breached the court’s earlier orders. She ordered the DSS to identify and bring any culprit before the court, adding that any resulting prosecution would be treated as a separate matter from the ongoing trial.

Earlier, the prosecution urged the court to admit in evidence the statements made to investigators by the defendants. The fourth prosecution witness in the trial-within-trial being conducted to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the statements, made the request while telling the court that the statements were voluntarily made by the defendants, who he said, were not subjected to any form of torture or harassment. The witness, identified as “DDD” and an officer of the Nigerian Army who participated in the investigation, was led in evidence by Oyedepo during which he denied all the allegations by the defendants, including that they were tortured to make the statements in which five of them, except the first, admitted knowing about the plot. On whether the claim by the defendants that their feet were chained, the witness said it was not true and that the defendants walked into the interview room by themselves. He argued that if it was true that they were chained, the sound of the chain would have been heard in the video that was played in court earlier on Tuesday. On why their lawyers were not present while they were being interviewed, the witness said none of them requested to have either their lawyers, family members, officials of the Legal Aid Council or a Justice of the Peace present. He disclosed that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team comprising the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the EFCC, and other security agencies. Under cross-examination by lawyers to the defendants, the witness restated that the defendants did not make their statements in the presence of either their lawyers, family members, officials of the Legal Aid Council or a JP. He however insisted that they were neither tortured nor compelled to make the statements. At the conclusion of the cross-examination, Oyedepo announced the closure of the prosecution’s case in the trial-within-trial, having called four witnesses.

The judge proceeded to hear the bail applications filed by the defendants. While the defence lawyers urged the court to grant bail to their clients on liberal terms, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the applications. Justice Abdulmalik then adjourned the matter until June 25 and June 30 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants to conduct their defence in the trial-within-trial, following which the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants would conduct theirs on July 1 and July 2. The judge also fixed ruling on the bail application for July 20.

The six men are being prosecuted over their alleged involvement in the alleged coup plot to topple President Bola Tinubu-led government. The defendants include a retired major general, Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, and a retired navy captain, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor. The rest are Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric. They face 13 counts of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering over the alleged failed coup. Information about the alleged secret plot was leaked to authorities last September, leading to the arrest of serving and retired military officers alongside their alleged civilian conspirators.

VeryDarkMan in Trouble as Court Orders DSS to Investigate Leaked Coup Trial Evidence