Nigeria Police Mandates Officers on Stop-and-Search to Wear Uniforms

By: Emmanuel Ibitoye

The Nigeria Police Force has asserted that officers assigned to stop-and-search duties must be attired in uniform, complete with visible name attachments. The Force Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, conveyed this directive through a post on his official X handle on Monday.

Adejobi’s statement came in response to a video showcasing four policemen in plain clothes stopping a driver on the Lekki-Epe Express Way. The officers, seeking the driver’s tinted permit, faced the driver’s demand for their identities, as there was no indication that they were law enforcement officers.

Addressing the situation, Adejobi revealed that the identified policemen “have been traced to Zone 2 and identified.” He further noted that the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zone 2 Lagos is conducting an investigation, and the Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) will provide additional information soon.

Emphasizing the directive, Adejobi reiterated that any policeman engaged in routine patrol or stop-and-search must adhere to the standard of being in a visible uniform, properly dressed, and easily identifiable. He highlighted the potential for misconduct when officers operate in mufti, underscoring the importance of uniformed presence in maintaining professionalism during such operations.

Adejobi clarified that officers in plain clothes are typically assigned to surveillance or undercover roles, emphasizing the inappropriate display of long-range guns or rifles in such situations. He called on Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Heads of Departments (HODs) to enforce these standards, promoting order and consistency within the force.