Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, has urged residents, especially young people, to reject unauthorised demands by police officers to search their mobile phones during stop-and-search operations in Abuja.
Sanusi said on Tuesday that random phone searches by officers were against the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and could expose members of the public to abuse and extortion.
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Speaking during a press briefing shared by News Central Television, the police commissioner said the restriction was introduced because of concerns over misconduct by some security personnel.
“The issue of phone searching has been clearly stated. Due to the abuse and extortion tendencies of some officers and men, not only of the Police but even other sister agencies, it has been instructed that nobody should search any phone,” Sanusi said.
The commissioner explained that mobile phones could become relevant during criminal investigations, but officers must follow due process before accessing their contents.
He said phone examinations should only happen after a person has been lawfully arrested and taken to a police station, where investigators can establish whether a device contains evidence connected to an alleged offence.
“This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station,” he said.
Sanusi warned officers against stopping members of the public on the road and demanding access to their devices based solely on suspicion of offences such as internet fraud.
He encouraged residents to stand firm when confronted with unlawful requests and to seek assistance through official police channels.
“Don’t agree. Don’t open your phones. Resist,” he said, while advising residents to contact the police emergency line or nearby officers if they encounter personnel attempting to conduct unauthorised searches.
The commissioner added that the FCT Police Command would continue to enforce the Inspector-General’s directive and investigate officers accused of violating the order.
“We still stand against that. We will still enforce the IG’s directive. Some of them are on the attack because they are criminally minded. They want to perpetuate such acts. If we get them, they will face disciplinary actions and will be made to face the consequences,” Sanusi said.
The warning comes amid wider concerns about interactions between security personnel and young Nigerians during roadside checks, particularly allegations of harassment, unlawful searches and demands for access to personal devices.
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Authorities have repeatedly stressed the need to balance effective crime prevention with respect for citizens’ rights and lawful procedures during policing operations.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
