EDO POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE

● Ban on searching citizens’ phones by police operatives.

● CP Edo warns officers and men to desist from this act, as IGP directs Zonal AIGs, Command, and Formations CPs to monitor their personnel and punish erring officers.

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, mni 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 seaching 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; 07037376464, 08140275108, 08033726625, and 08164523045

E-SIGN

SP CHIDI NWABUZOR, Anipr

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

EDO STATE COMMAND,

BENIN CITY.