A video has sparked outrage showing a man, claimed to be a police officer, wearing a mask, crocs sandals with a police uniform, and wielding a gun while invading a house.
The attire of some policemen who invaded a house has sparked outrage among Nigerians on social media.
In the video, an officer was captured jumping a fence while attempting to enter the home of an unknown person, raising concerns as to why the police would disguise themselves during an operation.
A young man in the video is seen telling the masked men they cannot open the gate unless they show their faces and a search warrant.
The man, supposedly the owner of the house, said, “Imagine police officers with facemasks coming into my house, forcing our door, claiming we are fraudsters.”
The masked policemen are overheard saying, “You said you no go open the gate? Ok!” The occupants of the house replied, saying: “Yes, we are not going to open the gate to masked armed men. We don’t know you.”
Subsequently, the armed men cocked their guns, and one fired a shot, causing the house occupants to run inside. One of them urged others to “get down”.
The policeman who fired the shot is then seen scaling the fence of the house. After gaining access to the compound, he proceeded to open the gate for his colleague.
In response to the video making rounds, the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that police officers can enter any property without a warrant if they suspect that crime a crime is taking place.
Adejobi, reacting to the video of officers scaling a fence and firing shots to disperse people, condemned the officer’s actions, acknowledging their behaviour as unacceptable.
However, the police also emphasised their authority to enter properties where they reasonably suspect a crime is being committed.
Adejobi stated: “Let’s clarify an issue here. The police have the power to break into any house or place where they are reasonably convinced an offence is being committed. That is understandable.
“But I am not too ok with their dressing and appearance. It is improper dressing. Policemen are not allowed to wear masks or tie head gear. These are 2 issues we need to iron out. What is the offence of the people to have warranted breaking in, and why this dressing?
“I wish I knew the location so that we could direct these questions to the men involved. However, I have shared the video with d PPROs to locate the men. We need to investigate the scene captured in the video. Thanks.”
Arise Television co-host Dr Reuben Abati reacted to the video and the comment made by the Police PRO. He noted that any police officer who invades a house without a warrant is a thief.
He said, “Muyiwa Adejobi is probably referring to certain provisions in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, which states that if you have an arrest warrant, you can invade a premises at any time of the day. The tradition used to be previously weekends were excluded, certain hours of the day were excluded. But that is no justification for police men to go and invade somebody’s house.
If a policeman wants to accost you or arrest you, you have a right to ask for the policeman’s identity. You have the right as a citizen to ask for arrest warrant and to ask that the purpose of their arrest be explained to you in a language that you understand.
But many Nigerians don’t enforce their rights, and in any case, the policemen don’t know these rights. They just carry their guns to intimidate these people. If you go invade somebody’s house, and you don’t have a warrant, then it is an act of armed robbery. Whether you are wearing uniform or not, you are an armed robber, and the person can resist.
That does not mean, however, the person should resist arrest. If the identity of the security is properly established.
I think a lot of public enlightenment needs to be done and the police should try and identify these police men.
First what they were wearing doesn’t look like police uniform. One of them, was wearing a funny kind of slippers. Which is a disgrace to the Nigerian police. What is that thing he is wearing? And then he is masked? If you’re going on operation, as a policeman, you dress properly.”
Source: www.mynigeria.com
