Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has raised concerns over the growing trend of citizens recording police officers with their phones, describing it as “very demoralising” for members of the force.
Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya and the NBA executive committee, Disu said a recent court judgment affirming citizens’ right to record police officers had triggered widespread filming of officers in public spaces.
“The recent judgment on recording of police officers jolted our officers. Citizens started coming out with their phones to record police officers everywhere they saw them. This has become very demoralising,” he said.
Disu noted that the practice had extended beyond police operations, with some individuals recording officers in restaurants and private settings.
While acknowledging citizens’ right to record officers performing their duties in public, he urged restraint and cautioned against turning officers into “content for skits.”
The IGP also highlighted the difficult conditions under which officers operate, particularly at checkpoints in remote and dangerous areas, stressing the need for respect and understanding of their work.
Responding, NBA President Badejo-Okusanya agreed that boundaries were needed to protect officers’ privacy but insisted that transparency in police operations must not be undermined.
She cited the use of body cameras in the United States as an example of how recording can promote accountability.“We should not be afraid of transparency in the lawful execution of duties.
Body cameras help ensure accountability and protect both officers and citizens,” she said.She called for clearer legal frameworks to balance citizens’ rights with officers’ privacy, urging collaboration between lawyers and police to strengthen trust and uphold the rule of law.
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