No policeman has right to beat you or search your phone – Lagos CP
*Asks Lagos residents to expose corrupt officers
*Provides steps to take in doing so
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“If you feel you have been cheated by a policeman or a policeman engages in corruption, kindly report the policeman to his DPO. If the DPO is not forthcoming, report to the Area Commander. I believe your case will be solved. But if you still feel cheated, please report to me directly, my phone number is open to all Lagosians,” he added.
Nigerians, especially resident in Lagos State, have once again been told to know their rights with regards to police activities and law, just as they are reminded there is no right for any police officer or personnel to beat a civilian or search his or her phone for whatever reason.
The DEFENDER recalls that it is not the first time the people, armless, would be asked by Nigeria’s foremost security agency to exercise this and other rights against security agents, armed to the teeth, in such matter only for the people to end as victims of police brutality.
In what appears to be a resolved enforcement of such rules, however, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fayoade Adegoke, while paying visit to a newly established radio station, Melody FM 107.7FM, Iyana-Ipaja area in his area of ooerations, made this declaration recently, precisely, on Wednesday January 10, 2024.
The state police chief, who commended commended the radio station for its efforts in disseminating right information to the public, later featured on the station’s night programme anchored by veteran broadcaster, Otunba Yemi Odunodu, also known as Mimi Aye.
In the interview granted in Yoruba as means of communication, the CP told Nigerians what they needed to know about themselves with regards to their rights and relationsh with officers and personnel of the police force.
“No policeman has the right to beat citizen. You citizens are our boss, the government pay us through your tax. So, we must accord you the necessary respect.
“On the issue of searching phone, no policeman has the right to search your phone. If a police man suspect anything on your phone, he would take you to the station to search the phone, we have a cyber department that deals with all that.”
On bail, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police reiterated that ‘bail is free’, while also giving citizens the clue to expose corrupt policemen.
“If you feel you have been cheated by a policeman or a policeman engages in corruption, kindly report the policeman to his DPO. If the DPO is not forthcoming, report to the Area Commander. I believe your case will be solved. But if you still feel cheated, please report to me directly, my phone number is open to all Lagosians,” he added.
On hand to receive the CP are the Chairman and Founder of Melody FM, Prophet Sam Ojo a.k.a. Baba Authority; the General Manager, Melody FM, Mr Omisope; Publisher of Yoruba Tooto newspaper, Mr Kunle Babarinde; and other top staff of the radio station.
