Nigerians have the right to record police officers while they perform their duties in public, legal practitioner Inibehe Effiong has said. The lawyer made the statement after Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu warned against filming police officers for social media skits. Disu said such acts could demoralise police officers. However, Effiong said the warning should not limit the public’s right to record law enforcement officers while they carry out their duties.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Effiong questioned what the police mean by content creation. He said people may create content for different reasons. Some may seek money, while others may share information for public awareness. He also pointed out that the Nigeria Police Force creates and shares content through its social media pages, website and radio station. Therefore, he said the police should clearly explain the type of recording that the IGP wants to stop.
Meanwhile, Disu had raised concerns about people recording police officers for online skits. He cited cases where officers were filmed while eating. According to him, the practice can affect the morale of officers. Effiong, however, said he had not seen evidence that such recordings were common on social media. He also urged the police to provide examples that support the concern raised by the IGP.
More importantly, Effiong said Nigerians have a constitutional right to record law enforcement officers in public while they perform their duties. He linked the right to Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution. The section protects freedom of expression and the right to share ideas and information. Effiong also said the protection covers the tools people use to share information, including mobile phones and other electronic devices.
The disagreement has opened a wider debate about police officers, public accountability and social media in Nigeria. On one side, the police want to protect the dignity and morale of their officers. On the other, citizens want to record events that happen in public spaces. Therefore, the debate may require a clear balance between the rights of citizens and the duties of police officers. As more Nigerians use mobile phones to record public events, clear rules on filming officers could help reduce confusion and prevent unnecessary conflict.
