The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fayoade Adegoke, has underscored that no police officer is authorized to search the phones of Nigerian citizens. He clarified that the Police Force has a dedicated cyber section responsible for such activities. If a police officer has suspicions, the proper procedure involves taking the individual to the police station, where authorized personnel can conduct a phone search.
The statement was made during the Commissioner’s visit to Melody FM, 107.7FM, located in Iyana-Ipaja, last Wednesday. The Commissioner commended the radio station for its efforts in disseminating information to the public. Adegoke also reiterated that bail is unrestricted and encouraged the public to report any instances of corruption by police officers.
He urged citizens to report cases of misconduct by police officers to their Divisional Police Officer (DPO). If the DPO does not address the issue satisfactorily, citizens are encouraged to escalate the matter to the Area Commander. Adegoke assured that grievances would be addressed, and citizens who still feel cheated can report directly to him through the provided phone number.
The Commissioner emphasized that no police officer has the right to physically harm citizens, stating that the public, as taxpayers, plays a crucial role in supporting law enforcement. Adegoke assured that citizens would be treated with the respect and decency they deserve. On the specific issue of phone searches, he emphasized that the proper procedure involves taking the individual to the station, where the cyber department is equipped to handle such matters.