A human rights activist and author, Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, has disagreed with the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who said citizens have the right to film and take pictures of police operatives while on the line of duty.
Mr Paul’s disagreement is coming after Olumiyiwa told an X user who claimed that police officers had extorted him for filming them during a stop-and-search operation that it is not illegal to record and take pictures of police operatives at work.
Adejobi while replying the X user said, “You can video or take pictures of policemen on duty. We have said it severally. There is nothing wrong with that.
“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.”
But Comrade Paul in a statement he made available to NewsBand Newspaper said the spokesman of the police is insincere and misleading Nigerians.
He said, “I utterly disagree with the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that citizens can freely record police officers while they are on duty. I dare the FPRO to disguise and record any Nigeria Police Officer on duty to see if his life would remain same by his ruthless colleagues.
“I deeply believe that the FPRO is insincere to Nigerians than educating his colleagues on international laws, human rights principles and basic civic education.
“I am of the assured views that Mr. Adejobi is deeply aware that his gaslighted and misleading statement cannot happen under the watch of any Nigeria Police Officer without the citizen not being shot at, killed, falsely accused, incarcerated, maimed or extorted by his colleagues”.
