The Inspector-General of Police wants Nigerians to drop their phones when they encounter officers on duty — but is this a reasonable request in today’s Nigeria?
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The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has come out swinging against a growing habit that many Nigerians have embraced in recent times — pulling out their phones to record police officers while they are on duty.
According to the IGP, this trend has become “very, very demoralising” for officers, and he is not happy about it one bit.
The IGP’s Position
IGP Disu made his feelings clear, stating that Nigerians should resist the urge to turn their police officers into social media content. In his view, the constant recording of officers while they carry out their duties is undermining morale within the force and making it harder for them to do their jobs effectively.
His message was simple: put the phone down.
But Wait — Why Do Nigerians Record Police Officers in the First Place?
If we are being honest with ourselves, this conversation cannot happen in a vacuum. Nigerians did not just wake up one day and decide to become amateur filmmakers targeting police officers for fun.
The #EndSARS movement of October 2020* remains fresh in the memory of millions of Nigerians. It was citizen recordings — shaky phone videos, Instagram Live sessions, and Twitter uploads — that brought the brutal activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to both local and international attention. Those videos were not “content” for clout. They were *evidence.
For many Nigerians, recording a police officer is not about disrespect — it is about self-preservation.
A Trust Deficit That Cannot Be Ignored
Let’s call a spade a spade. The relationship between Nigerian citizens and the police force has been strained for a very long time. From reports of extortion at checkpoints, to harassment of young people carrying laptops, to outright brutality — many Nigerians have personal stories or know someone who does.
In that kind of environment, a phone camera is one of the few tools an ordinary Nigerian has to protect themselves and hold officers accountable.
The IGP’s concerns about officer morale are valid — no one wants to feel like they are constantly under surveillance at work. However, accountability and transparency are the foundations of public trust, and that trust must be earned.
The Bigger Conversation Nigeria Needs to Have
Rather than discouraging citizens from recording officers, perhaps the more productive conversation is about how the police force can rebuild the confidence of everyday Nigerians.
When citizens trust that officers will be professionally disciplined, that complaints will be taken seriously, and that brutality will not be swept under the rug — the impulse to record every police interaction will naturally reduce.
Until then, asking Nigerians to simply “stop recording” without addressing the underlying issues is, at best, putting the cart before the horse.
The Bottom Line
IGP Tunji Disu’s concerns deserve to be heard — police officers are human beings too, and a demoralised force serves no one. But accountability is not the enemy of good policing. In fact, it is a key ingredient.
Nigeria needs both: a police force that is professional, respectful, and trustworthy — and citizens who feel safe enough to not need a phone camera as a shield.
That balance will only come through genuine reform, open dialogue, and a commitment from the top to hold officers to the highest standards.
What do you think? Should Nigerians stop recording police officers on duty, or is it a necessary check on power? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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