Police Raise Alarm Over Phone Searches, Warns Officers Against Harassing Residents

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has advised residents, particularly young Nigerians, not to allow police officers to search their mobile phones during routine stop and search operations without following due process.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, gave the warning while addressing concerns over alleged harassment, intimidation and extortion linked to unlawful phone searches by some police personnel in Abuja.

Sanusi said police officers do not have the right to randomly demand access to citizens’ phones during road checks, stressing that such actions violate established procedures and citizens’ privacy rights.

He urged residents to politely decline unlawful demands for access to their devices and report any officer involved in harassment, extortion or abuse of authority to the appropriate police channels.

The commissioner explained that the directive was issued following complaints from members of the public, especially youths, who alleged that some officers use phone searches as a means of intimidation and extortion during security operations.

He, however, encouraged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies during lawful operations, noting that effective policing requires partnership between the police and the communities they serve.

The development adds to similar directives issued by other police commands, including Lagos, where commissioners have also warned officers against indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile devices during stop and search exercises.

The FCT Police Command reiterated its commitment to professional policing and warned personnel against any conduct capable of damaging public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.

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