Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has appealed to Nigerians to stop recording police officers for entertainment purposes, saying the practice has become demoralising for members of the force.
Disu made the comment in Abuja during a meeting with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, and members of the association’s executive committee.
The meeting was held as part of efforts to address recurring disagreements between lawyers and police officers and improve relations between both groups.
Speaking during the meeting, the Inspector-General expressed concern over what he described as the growing practice of citizens using their mobile phones to record police officers in different locations.
According to Disu, a recent court judgment concerning the recording of police officers had raised concerns within the police community.
He said the situation subsequently led to people recording officers wherever they encountered them, including outside official police operations.
The IGP said the development had affected the morale of some officers.
He particularly appealed to members of the public not to turn encounters with police officers into material for social media skits.
Disu, however, acknowledged that Nigerians have the right to record police officers while they are carrying out their duties in public.
He urged citizens to exercise restraint and responsibility in the manner in which such recordings are made and subsequently used.
The IGP’s comments come amid ongoing discussions over the relationship between the police and members of the public, as well as efforts to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies and legal practitioners.
The meeting with the NBA was also aimed at finding ways to prevent recurring confrontations between lawyers and police officers.
