The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, does not oppose citizens recording police officers while they perform their duties in public.

The Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, said the IGP’s concern was not about preventing legitimate documentation or shielding officers from accountability, but about the misuse of recordings, particularly when police encounters are deliberately turned into social media skits or entertainment.

IGP Cannot Stop Nigerians From Recording Police Officers – SANs

Giwa made the clarification in a series of posts on X on Saturday, following criticism of Disu’s recent comments on the filming of police officers.

According to him, citizens should distinguish between responsibly documenting police activities and recording officers primarily to provoke, ridicule or create social media content.

“The IGP’s concern is not to shield Police officers from accountability or deny citizens their rights. Instead, it focuses on the misuse of recordings, especially when officers are provoked, ridiculed, filmed for entertainment, or subjected to unnecessary intrusion while performing their duties,” Giwa said.

He stressed that legitimate recordings could serve the interests of both citizens and police officers by providing evidence where allegations of misconduct arise and protecting officers against false accusations.

“As a public institution, the Police must remain open to legitimate scrutiny. Evidence is essential when an officer acts improperly. Similarly, responsible recording can protect officers from false allegations and support investigations,” he stated.

However, Giwa noted that police officers, despite being public servants, retain their rights to dignity and privacy.

“However, wearing the uniform does not remove an officer’s right to dignity or privacy,” he added.

The clarification followed an online exchange in which an X user criticised the IGP’s position and suggested that police officers should instead be equipped with body cameras if the Force was concerned about citizens filming them.

Responding, Giwa said Disu had not issued a blanket prohibition against recording police officers.

“The message from the IGP was concerning the misuse of recordings, not a general rejection of legitimate documentation or accountability,” he said.

Giwa also disclosed that the use of body cameras is part of ongoing discussions about modern and accountable policing.

“Body cameras are, in fact, part of the broader conversation about modern, accountable policing, and they can protect both citizens and officers,” he stated.

The Force New Media Officer urged Nigerians to engage in the debate responsibly and avoid turning the disagreement into a confrontation between the police and the public.

“The police need to be accountable and citizens should exercise their rights in a responsible way. We can have that discussion without using insults. The end aim is the same, a more professional Police Force and a safer Nigeria,” Giwa said.

He also rejected attempts to frame the matter as a conflict between the IGP and the Nigerian Bar Association.

“Therefore, the conversation should not be framed as Police versus the public or the IGP versus the NBA.

“Instead, it should focus on balancing accountability with responsibility, transparency with privacy, and citizens’ rights with the professional discharge of Police duties.”

The clarification came after a recent meeting between NBA leaders and the police leadership at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where the issue of recording police officers was discussed.

During the engagement, Disu acknowledged that Nigerians could record officers carrying out their duties in public but urged citizens to exercise restraint and avoid using such recordings for entertainment.

“We are not saying they cannot exercise their rights of recording officers in the public places while doing their jobs.

“But they should put restraints and not turn our police officers to content for their skits or anything,” the IGP said.

NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, similarly argued that a distinction should be made between legitimate documentation of police activities and intrusion into the private lives of officers.

The debate has also been linked to a March 17 judgment of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed Nigerians’ right to record police officers while they are performing their duties in public.

Giwa said the engagement between the police leadership and the NBA showed that disagreements between institutions could be resolved through constructive dialogue.

“The engagement between the IGP and NBA leadership demonstrates that strong institutions can engage constructively, clarify positions, and collaborate despite differing perspectives,” he said.

He further urged Nigerians and law enforcement agencies to embrace responsible use of technology rather than viewing cameras as a threat.

“In the digital age, the solution is not to fear the camera. Instead, we should use technology responsibly, uphold professionalism, and let truth, rather than social media narratives, define the conversation,” Giwa stated.

He added:

“The camera should not weaken the institution. Also, institutions should not fear legitimate scrutiny. Both must ultimately serve the truth, justice, and the Nigerian people.”