The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FPRO

  • Raining curses on someone online is a criminal offence – FPRO

    Raining curses on someone online is a criminal offence – FPRO

    The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has stated that raining curses on individuals online constitutes a criminal offence punishable under the law.

    In a post on X.com on Friday, Adejobi explained that such behavior amounts to cyberbullying, which cannot be justified as freedom of expression or constructive criticism.

    He wrote: “Raining direct curses on someone online is cyber bullying, not expression of freedom or criticism.

    “And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided.”

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    Questioning Adejobi’s post on X, a tweep said, “@felabayomi: When does raining curses become a crime? I look forward to the day someone will challenge these laws they are using to take away people’s human rights in the Supreme Court. Late Gani Fawehinmi would have challenged that law by now.”

    @DistinctFOJ contested, “Olumuyiwa, assuming your narrative is valid, and Section 1(3) of the CFRN state that if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail.

    Freedom of expression is non-negotiable. Raining curses is Constitutional.”

    @omoopee_ agreed with the FPRO: “You are absolutely right, sir. Raining curses and engaging in cyberbullying is not freedom of expression but an act of harm. We must all learn to express ourselves responsibly. That said, sir, please, you have yet to respond to my question.”

  • Police officers on stop-and-search assignments must wear uniforms – FPRO

    Police officers on stop-and-search assignments must wear uniforms – FPRO

    The Nigeria Police Force has said that personnel conducting stop-and-search operations have to wear uniforms with their names on them.

    This statement was posted on Monday, January 29, by Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, on his X account.

    The force spokesperson was responding to a video that showed four police officers on Lekki-Epe Express Way stopping a motorist while wearing muftis.

    When the officers went up to get the motorist’s tinted permit, he asked for their identities because he didn’t see anything that would suggest they were police officials.

    But, reacting to the development, Adejobi said the policemen “have been traced to Zone 2 and identified,” adding that “the AIG Zone 2 Lagos is investigating, while the PPRO Zone 2 will speak on it as soon as possible.”

    He claimed that the NPF had mandated that all police officers conducting routine patrol or stop-and-search operations be identifiable, in uniform, and appropriately attired.

    According to Adejobi, it is not ideal for police officers to go on patrol while wearing a mufti because they will behave inappropriately when they are aware that their identities are unknown.

    “You will recall that we have ordered and announced that any policeman embarking on routine patrol or stop and search must be in uniform, properly dressed, and easily identified. It’s not ideal to carry out a stop-and-search in mufti.

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    “The audacity to misbehave or carry out unprofessional conduct comes when you know your identity is hidden and unknown. I still reiterate that policemen on stop and search and routine patrol must be in uniform. That is the standard in the police,” Adejobi said.

    He added that “policemen in mufti are supposed to be on surveillance or undercover and not to be seen with long-range guns or rifles.

    He added: “This is what our DPOs and HODs should emphasise and enforce to bring sanity and standardisation.”

  • You can video or take pictures of policemen on duty – Police FPRO

    You can video or take pictures of policemen on duty – Police FPRO

    The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has affirmed the right of citizens to record police officers while they are on duty.

    The Force spokesperson made this statement as a response to an X user, #Boy_Cyril, who claimed that police had extorted him for filming them during a stop-and-search operation.

    #Boy_Cyril wrote: “Sir, is it a crime to video during stop and search because I had to pay N10,000 for those officers to give me back my phone after taking it forcefully from me just now.”

    Adejobi addressed the matter and emphasised that it is not illegal to record or take pictures of police personnel while they are in the line of duty.

    Adejobi said: “You can video or take pictures of policemen on duty. We have said it severally. There is nothing wrong with that.

    Read Also: Report police officer who forcefully takes your phone, FPRO Tells Nigerians

    “You can take up the case. Send an SMS to me or our email box, Pressforabuja@police.gov.ng. You can also talk to your PPRO.

    “Every policeman knows that videoing and taking pictures of them on duty is allowed and permitted. Those who attack or harass people for such are just deviants and recalcitrant and unprofessional. Or have you seen any of them telling you he’s not aware?

    “They all know. It’s like a case of a criminal who knows committing crimes is criminal and punishable, yet he does it until he’s caught.”

  • Report police officer who forcefully takes your phone, FPRO Tells Nigerians

    Report police officer who forcefully takes your phone, FPRO Tells Nigerians

    Nigerians have been urged by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, to report any police officer who takes their phones by force or searches them.

    Adejobi said this on his X page on Tuesday, November 7.

    He wrote: “Report any policeman who forcefully collects and searches your phones or electronic equipment. It’s not proper, not professional.

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    “They can only scrutinise your phone when such is subject to an investigation and already marked exhibit, and such is not done on the road.

    “So, any policeman who searches the phone on the road is deviant and violates the order of the IGP and negates our SOP. He should be sanctioned.”