The Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Funsho Adegboye, has warned police officers to desist from searching citizens’ phone.
The CP in a press release has said it is now an offense punishable for any officer that engage in the search of law abiding citizen of Edo State. “This press release is to inform the general public especially the law abiding citizens of Edo State of the State Police Command’s position regarding searching of citizens’ phones by the operatives while on routine patrol, stop and search duties in the State.
The Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Funsho Adegboye, during a meeting with the Command’s strategic security managers re-echoed the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM on the ban on searching of citizens’ phones while on Patrol, Raid Operations, Stop and Search duties or other essential duties. He warned that on no account should Police Officers/operatives engage in searching citizens’ phones in line of duties.
The CP who had served in various capacity at the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, Liberia, East Timor and Afican Union Mission in Somalia said that officers can only be allowed to search citizens’ phones when executing court order from the court of competent jurisdiction as it empower them to carry out such duties therein in the course of investigation.
However, he vehemently warns officers and men to desist from this unprofessional conduct of searching phones that any officer caught doing so will face severe sanctions.
He therefore urges the general public to be patient with the police and report any officer who indulges in unprofessional conduct through these dedicated telephone numbers