Abuja: The FCT Command of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has clarified that Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu’s stance on the filming of police officers does not aim to protect any officers engaged in misconduct. The committee emphasized that this position is in response to concerns over privacy and accountability in police-public interactions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Rufus Egbagba, Chairman of the FCT Command of PCRC, issued a statement affirming that the Inspector-General’s recent caution against recording police officers during their public duties should not be misconstrued as an effort to shield officers from accountability. Disu had previously urged Nigerians to refrain from filming officers in action, emphasizing that they do not invade citizens’ offices to record them during work.
Egbagba pointed out the increasing trend of social media influencers recording police officers, particularly during stop-and-search operations or personal activities, has brought up significant issues regarding accountability and privacy. He stressed that the Inspector-General’s position is not a directive against filming police misconduct but calls for responsible engagement.
The PCRC chairman noted that if an officer is suspected of improper conduct, the appropriate action is to preserve evidence and report the incident through the proper channels. The Nigeria Police Force provides a Complaint Response Unit (CRU) where such complaints can be lodged, including video evidence for investigation.
Dr. Egbagba highlighted that social media exposure should support formal investigations rather than replace them, as brief video clips may not capture the full context of an incident, potentially leading to premature public judgment.
He acknowledged that the Nigeria Police Force, like any large institution, has its share of misconduct, which should not be excused. However, constant recording and distribution of such incidents could create a misleading impression of the Force as a whole, impacting Nigeria’s international perception.
The PCRC chief also expressed concerns about the human impact of filming officers without consent for entertainment, stating that such actions could harm morale, particularly among officers stationed in challenging environments who rely on public support.
Ultimately, while documenting misconduct is important, turning ordinary or off-duty moments into content at an officer’s expense should be discouraged.