Police officers not permitted to search citizens’ phones – Lagos CP

Police officers not permitted to search citizens’ phones – Lagos CP

No police officer is permitted to search the phones of any Nigerian, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, has said.

He stated this while speaking on the issues arising from the activities of the police on Melody FM.

According to Adegoke, the Police Force has a cyber section responsible for checking telephone conversations and online activities of the citizens.

The CP added that should a police officer suspect a person of committing a crime via their phone, all the officer needed to do was to take the person to the station so the phone could be searched.

He said, “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,” he said.

The police boss also reaffirmed that bail was unrestricted and urged the public to expose corrupt police officers.

“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,” the CP said.