IGP issues fresh directives, says no more checking of people’s phones 1
Police File

IGP issues fresh directives, says no more checking of people’s phones

The Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has declared that no Police officer of any unit should henceforth look into people’s phones.

It was gathered that the IGP made this statement at a press briefing, in Abuja. The information is coming on the heels of the #ENDSARS protest, currently ongoing nationwide.

His statement reads, “The issue of any Police unit going to look into people’s phones, which is supposed to be their private property, or looking at the type of vehicle they‘re using, or profiling them to see whether they‘re yahoo boys or not. That era is gone. It is not acceptable.”

The Police, for many years, have insisted on searching the phones of citizens at check points or any location, and upon seeing anything whether incriminating or not, will bill that particular person a certain amount of money before he or she can collect their phones.

They search through e-mails, text messages, as well as chats on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, snapchat and so on, looking for something incriminating to pin the owner with.

Any claim of right or refusal to open one’s phone when locked could lead to severe beating, seizure of the phone or even both.

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