The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Sanusi, has warned residents of Abuja not to allow any police officer to search their mobile phones during routine stops or roadside arrests, saying such actions are unlawful and violate existing police directives.
Sanusi gave the warning on Monday while addressing journalists in Abuja, where he stressed that police officers do not have the authority to demand access to people’s phones simply because they have been stopped on the road or are under suspicion.
He urged residents to resist such requests peacefully and immediately raise an alarm or contact the police whenever any officer attempts to search their phones without following due process.
According to him, the directive is aimed at protecting the rights of citizens and addressing complaints of abuse and extortion by some police personnel.
“Don’t allow any police officer to search your phone,” Sanusi said.
“We’re saying this because of the abuse and extortive tendencies of some of our officers.”
The police commissioner explained that officers have been instructed not to search mobile phones during roadside operations or while carrying out routine patrols.
He noted that some officers wrongly assume that possession of certain information on a person’s phone is enough to link them to internet fraud or other crimes.
According to him, such actions are contrary to the directives of the Nigeria Police Force.
“It has been instructed that nobody should search any phone, especially when you just arrest somebody on the road and you start searching the person’s phone, suspecting that he is an internet fraudster,” he said.
Sanusi, however, clarified that mobile phones can still be examined during criminal investigations where necessary.
He explained that phones often contain important evidence in criminal cases, but officers must first follow the proper legal process before conducting any search.
According to him, such searches should only take place after a suspect has been lawfully arrested in connection with a specific offence and taken to a police station as part of an investigation.
“This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime,” he said.
“But before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station. Then, when trying to uncover some evidence, you can search to see whether the phone or other items are being used to perpetrate the crime.”
He stressed that randomly demanding access to a person’s phone on the street is illegal.
“But for you to just stop anybody on the road and say, ‘Bring your phone, let me search,’ is not legal,” he added.
The commissioner urged residents not to surrender their phones if confronted with such demands.
Instead, he advised them to seek help immediately and report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
“If any policeman stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, which we are bound to obey to the last of it, don’t open your phone. Resist and ask other people to help you call the police. You will see our men there,” he said.
Sanusi assured residents that the FCT Police Command would respond promptly to complaints involving unlawful conduct by police officers.
He said the command remained committed to ensuring that officers operate within the law while carrying out their duties.
The warning comes amid growing public concern over allegations that some security personnel have used roadside phone searches to harass, intimidate or extort members of the public, especially young Nigerians.
In recent years, civil society organisations and human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the practice, arguing that it violates citizens’ constitutional rights to privacy and dignity.
The issue became one of the major complaints during the nationwide #EndSARS protests in 2020, when many young Nigerians accused some police officers, particularly members of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), of profiling people based on the contents of their phones, appearance or lifestyle.
Following the protests, the Nigeria Police Force introduced reforms aimed at improving professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights.
The Inspector-General of Police has on several occasions reminded officers to respect the rights of citizens and avoid unlawful searches, harassment and extortion.
They argue that searches of personal devices should be carried out only within the limits of the law and in connection with legitimate criminal investigations.
The FCT Police Command has continued to encourage residents to report any misconduct by police officers through its complaint channels and emergency response units.
According to the command, disciplinary measures are taken against officers found guilty of violating operational guidelines or engaging in acts of corruption and abuse of office.
Sanusi reiterated that the police have a duty to protect lives and property while respecting the fundamental rights of citizens.
He said public cooperation remains essential in fighting crime but stressed that such cooperation must be based on mutual respect, professionalism and strict compliance with the law.
The commissioner assured Abuja residents that the command would continue to monitor the conduct of its personnel and take appropriate action against officers who disregard the directives of the Inspector-General of Police.
He urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, cooperate with legitimate police investigations and promptly report any officer who attempts to carry out an unlawful search or engage in any form of intimidation or extortion.