The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has raised concerns over the growing trend of recording police officers during operations and sharing the videos online for content creation.
The warning comes at a time when social media videos involving security personnel are attracting widespread attention across Nigeria. However, the police chief said the practice could create
challenges for officers carrying out their duties.
Speaking during an interactive session with members of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CCAN) in Abuja, Disu urged Nigerians to act responsibly when recording and sharing police-related content online.
The meeting was attended by members of the Force Management Team. It focused on security issues, public cooperation, and the role of the media in promoting accurate information.
According to the police chief, the increasing circulation of police videos is becoming a source of concern. He noted that while accountability remains important, some recordings are being shared without proper context.
As a result, public perception can be affected, while ongoing security efforts may also be disrupted.
The issue was highlighted as one of the growing concerns facing law enforcement agencies. Disu explained that many old clips are often recycled and presented as recent events.
According to him, this trend creates confusion and unnecessary fear among residents.
“Members of the public should not distract police attention with all these video clips. We are trying our best to address the genuine ones, but what is happening now is that people are coming up with old video clips that happened a very long time ago. This is not acceptable,” he said.
Furthermore, the IGP stressed that police officers continue to make sacrifices while protecting lives and property across the country.
He noted that officers often work under difficult conditions. Therefore, actions that reduce morale should be avoided.
The police chief also reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to transparency and professionalism. However, he emphasized that public engagement with officers should be carried out responsibly.
“Police personnel continue to make significant sacrifices in the discharge of their constitutional duties and deserve public understanding and support.
“However, recordings and public engagements involving police officers must be done responsibly and should not be used to harass officers or undermine operational effectiveness.”
Moreover, Disu warned that sensitive operations could be affected when officers are filmed indiscriminately. He explained that security challenges require concentration and cooperation from the public.
According to him, officers should not be distracted while carrying out assignments that involve public safety.
“Police officers operate under extremely challenging conditions, often risking their lives to protect citizens and maintain public safety. It is important that public conduct and media coverage do not discourage officers who are committed to doing the right thing.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Mr. Festus Fifen, called for stronger cooperation between journalists and security agencies.
He stated that crime reporters now play a bigger role in promoting safety and national development.
According to him, “we are no longer just reporting violence; we are part of a system working towards building a safer society, we are all the citizens of this country, and we don’t have another country than Nigeria”.
In addition, he urged authorities to provide timely and accurate information during security incidents.
