The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6, AIG Kamaldeen Kola Okunlola, has disclosed that filming a police officer while performing his duty was not a crime but legal and within the rights of citizens.
AIG Okunlola made the disclosure during a familiarisation visit to the Cross River State Police Command Headquarters, Diamond Hill, Calabar, on Thursday.
The DEFENDER reports that Kamaldeen Okunlola’s tenure as Sokoto State Commissioner of Police as one that continues to resonate in the memory of those that knew him then and have expressed confidence that he will do much better as AIG especially at his new posting.
The AIG punctured the usual belief that a citizen, filming a police officer while on duty, has committed a crime.
He added that every Nigerian has the right to film any police personnel on duty stressing that it was within their rights in the law.
The AIG cautioned police officers to desist from the act of stopping a citizen from recording them while performing their duty adding that it was not a crime.
AIG Kamaldeen Kola Okunlola called on officers to be more humane and friendly with their neighbours that is the citizenry they protect and avoid harassing them in any form.
“We must be humane and close to the public, and not when you want to extort money you turn to a tyrant and oppress innocent citizens. All that must stop. You must treat people right, because you are there for them.,” he said.
