The Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, made the clarification in a series of posts on X on Saturday, following criticism of the IGP’s recent comments on citizens filming police officers.
Giwa said Disu’s concern was not about preventing accountability or denying citizens their rights, but about the misuse of recordings, particularly when officers are deliberately provoked, ridiculed or filmed for entertainment and social media content.
“The IGP’s concern is not to shield Police officers from accountability or deny citizens their rights. Instead, it focuses on the misuse of recordings, especially when officers are provoked, ridiculed, filmed for entertainment, or subjected to unnecessary intrusion while performing their duties,” he said.
He stressed the need to distinguish between responsible documentation and the deliberate exploitation of encounters with police officers for social media content.
According to him, legitimate recordings can protect both citizens and police officers by providing evidence when misconduct occurs and helping to counter false allegations.
“As a public institution, the Police must remain open to legitimate scrutiny. Evidence is essential when an officer acts improperly. Similarly, responsible recording can protect officers from false allegations and support investigations,” Giwa said.
He, however, maintained that police officers are also entitled to dignity and privacy.
“However, wearing the uniform does not remove an officer’s right to dignity or privacy,” he added.
The clarification followed criticism from an X user who argued that police officers should be equipped with body cameras if the Force was uncomfortable with citizens recording them.
Responding to the comment, Giwa said Disu had not rejected the practice of recording police officers generally.
“While you are allowed to interpret it as you see fit, the message from the IGP was concerning the misuse of recordings, not a general rejection of legitimate documentation or accountability,” he said.
Giwa also confirmed that body cameras were part of discussions around accountable policing.
“Body cameras are, in fact, part of the broader conversation about modern, accountable policing, and they can protect both citizens and officers,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to engage the issue without resorting to insults, stressing that both the police and citizens ultimately seek a more professional police force and a safer Nigeria.
The clarification followed a recent courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to Disu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where the issue of recording police officers was discussed.
Disu had expressed concern over Nigerians recording police officers, particularly for social media skits, describing the practice as “very, very demoralising” for members of the Force.
The IGP, however, acknowledged that citizens have the right to record officers performing their duties in public.
“We are not saying they cannot exercise their rights of recording officers in the public places while doing their jobs,” Disu said.
“But they should put restraints and not turn our police officers to content for their skits or anything,” he added.
His comments sparked criticism from lawyers, human rights groups and other Nigerians, with some insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to document police officers while they are performing their duties in public.
NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya had also called for a distinction between legitimate recording of police activities and intrusion into officers’ private lives.
The controversy followed a March 17 judgment of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed Nigerians’ right to record police officers while they perform their duties in public.
Giwa said the engagement between the IGP and NBA leadership showed that institutions could disagree while still engaging constructively.
He said the focus should be on balancing accountability with responsibility, transparency with privacy, and citizens’ rights with the professional discharge of police duties.
“In the digital age, the solution is not to fear the camera. Instead, we should use technology responsibly, uphold professionalism, and let truth, rather than social media narratives, define the conversation,” Giwa said.
“The camera should not weaken the institution. Also, institutions should not fear legitimate scrutiny. Both must ultimately serve the truth, justice, and the Nigerian people,” he added.
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