The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has warned Nigerians against filming police officers while they carry out their duties simply to create social media content.
Disu shared his concerns over what he described as the misuse of police-related content. He explained that the practice could affect the morale of police officers, especially those working in difficult and dangerous environments.
IGP Disu Raises Concern Over Police Officers’ Morale
Speaking on the issue, Disu questioned whether people would accept similar forms of recording in their own workplaces or inside courtrooms. He said: 
“Can we come to your offices and record in your offices? Can we record even in the court? We were discussing it yesterday and we discussed the issue of our offices, people coming with concealed cameras.”
“The recent judgement on recording of police officers really jolted officers and became something of concern to us because citizens started coming out with their phones to record police officers everywhere they saw them.
“This can be embarrassing. Some even went to restaurants to start recording police officers where they were eating. Everywhere you see a policeman, you start recording a policeman.”
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Police Chief Urges Nigerians to Exercise Restraint
The IGP said the increasing practice of recording police officers could become demoralising for officers who already face demanding conditions while performing their duties.
He said:
“So this is something that’s very demoralising to us. We are doing very difficult jobs and we need all the concentration in the world to be able to do our jobs.”
“We are not saying they can’t exercise their right to record officers in public places while doing their jobs, but they should put restraints and do not turn our police officers to content and skits or anything.”
IGP Highlights Risks Faced by Officers at Checkpoints
Disu also drew attention to the difficult conditions that police officers face at checkpoints and other locations while protecting members of the public.
He said:
“If you look at where we have our officers on checkpoints, they are in dangerous areas, thick in the forest, thick in the bushes, the highways, middle of nowhere, and those officers will stay there morning and night to do their job to keep other people safe.”
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