The Nigeria Police Force has made it clear that citizens have the right to take pictures and videos of police officers while they are on duty. Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, responded to a complaint from a user on X (formerly Twitter) who claimed that he was extorted by some police officers for N10,000 after recording them during a stop-and-search operation. Adejobi emphasized that it is not a crime to take photographs or videos of police officers while they are on duty. The X user, @Boy_Cyril, asked if it was illegal to record during a stop-and-search operation because he was forced to pay N10,000 to get his phone back after it was taken from him by the officers.
In his response, the Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that the police had announced several times that there is nothing wrong with Nigerians taking photos or videoing police officers on duty.
He added that anyone who is harassed by any police officer for videoing or taking photos should report the case to the police authority.
He said, “You can video or take pictures of policemen on duty. We have said it severally. There is nothing wrong with that.
“You can take up the case. Send an SMS to me or our email box, Pressforabuja@police.gov.ng. you can as well talk to your PPRO.”