Police PRO says. “Searching of phones by policemen is gross violation of people’s right to privacy”

On Friday night, ASP Timfon John, the Public Relations Officer for the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, reaffirmed that no police officer has the authority to search a person’s phone unless it is necessary for an investigation. He claimed that this is a flagrant violation of people’s right to privacy…. CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶️▶️

The Police PRO disclosed this in a statement on her X handle on apparently following various complaints regarding searching of people’s phones by policemen.

It is very common nowadays for some policemen to stop people on the road, or travellers at checkpoints and begin to check the contents of their phones, while in some cases, the owners of the phones are made to transfer money seen in their bank applications to the accounts provided by such policemen.

ASP Timfon John, Akwa Ibom Police PRO.

However, reacting to the issue, the Police PRO said the police authorities in the state will not condone any action capable of bringing embarrassment and disdain to the command in particular and the Nigerian Police Force in general.

The Police PRO wrote: “Any officer who engages in unprofessional activities like intimidation, extortion and violation of fundamental human rights shall be thoroughly dealt with.

“It is worthy of note that no police officer has the right to search your phone for no just cause except based on an investigation. Anything outside this is tantamount to a gross violation of your right to privacy.”

Some police commands in the country have also warned their officers against checking people’s phones, but despite this warnings, policemen are still in the habit of stopping people, especially the youths, and checking their phones.

Below is the screenshot of the post by the Police PRO on the issue:CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶️▶️