The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has urged Nigerians to exercise restraint when recording police officers performing their duties in public, warning against turning policemen into social media content or skit makers.
Disu made the comment during a press conference in Abuja, where he acknowledged the constitutional right of citizens to record police officers carrying out public duties in public spaces.
His remarks followed a March 17, 2026 ruling by the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed the right of Nigerians to film police activities in public.
In suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa ruled that arresting, harassing or intimidating people, or seizing their devices solely because they were recording police officers performing public duties, violates the constitutional right to freedom of expression under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution.
However, Disu said the ruling had created concerns within the police because of what he described as excessive recording of officers by members of the public.
“We are not saying they can’t exercise their rights of recording officers in public places while doing their jobs but they should put restraint and not turn our police officers into content for their skit or anything.”
The IGP questioned whether people would similarly enter offices, courts or other workplaces to record officials without restrictions.
He said some Nigerians had allegedly begun recording police officers in places such as restaurants simply because they encountered them there.
“Everywhere they see a police officer they start recording and this is very demoralizing to us.”
Disu argued that police officers often operate in difficult and potentially dangerous environments and require concentration to perform their responsibilities effectively.
“We are doing very difficult jobs and we need all the concentration in the world to be able to do our jobs.”
The police chief specifically highlighted officers deployed to forests, bushes and highways, where he said they could remain for long periods while protecting members of the public.
“If you look at where we have our officers, they are dangerous areas thick in the forest, thick in the bushes and on the highways. In the middle of nowhere these officers will stay there morning and night to do their jobs of keeping other people safe.”
Disu’s comments therefore did not dispute the court’s recognition of citizens’ right to record police activity in public. Instead, he appealed for responsible use of that right and asked Nigerians to avoid deliberately recording officers for entertainment or social media content.
The position comes amid continuing discussions over the balance between police accountability, citizens’ constitutional rights and the operational needs of law enforcement officers.
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