A fresh debate has emerged over Nigerians’ right to record police officers performing their duties in public, following comments by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu.
Disu recently urged Nigerians to exercise restraint when filming police officers, saying indiscriminate recording, particularly for social media skits, had become demoralizing to members of the Force. However, he acknowledged that citizens have the right to record officers performing official duties in public.
The position has drawn support for the Nigerian Bar Association’s stance from human rights groups and the African Action Congress, which argued that recording police activities is important for transparency and accountability.
The controversy followed a March 17, 2026, judgment by the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed Nigerians’ constitutional right to record police officers carrying out their duties in public.
Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, in a suit filed by lawyer Maxwell Uwaifo, also ordered police officers to display visible name tags and force numbers and barred them from harassing or arresting citizens for recording their activities.
NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya backed the ruling but called for clear limits to protect officers’ privacy when they are off duty.
Amnesty International Country Director Isa Sanusi said transparency should not be obstructed, while the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights also backed recording as a tool for holding police officers accountable.
The African Action Congress similarly said Nigerians needed to document police encounters, particularly amid concerns over illegal checkpoints and impersonators.
However, public affairs analyst Rufus Egbagba said the IGP’s position should not be viewed as an attempt to shield erring officers. He urged Nigerians to preserve videos of alleged misconduct and submit them through appropriate complaint channels rather than relying solely on social media.
Disu had also warned in June that indiscriminate recording and circulation of police-related videos could undermine security operations and demoralize officers.
The IGP’s latest comments have therefore renewed calls for clearer guidelines defining when and how citizens can record police officers without obstructing their duties or violating their privacy.
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