The clarification was made by the Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, in a series of posts on X on Saturday, following public reactions to the IGP’s recent remarks on citizens filming police officers.
Giwa explained that Disu’s concern was not about preventing public scrutiny, but about the improper use of recordings, particularly when encounters with officers are deliberately turned into social media entertainment.
According to him, responsible recording can help promote accountability, provide evidence of misconduct and also protect police officers against false allegations.
He stressed that citizens have legitimate rights to document police activities in public, but urged them to exercise those rights responsibly and avoid provoking, ridiculing or unnecessarily invading the privacy of officers.
The Force spokesperson also noted that the use of body-worn cameras was being considered as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability within the police.
Giwa said such technology could benefit both the public and law enforcement by providing an objective record of encounters between officers and citizens.
He further urged Nigerians to avoid presenting the issue as a confrontation between the police and the public, saying the focus should instead be on achieving a balance between accountability, privacy and the professional discharge of police duties.
The clarification followed criticism of the IGP’s comments during a recent meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Disu had described the use of police officers as subjects of social media skits as demoralising, while acknowledging that citizens were entitled to record officers carrying out their duties in public.
His comments generated reactions from lawyers, rights advocates and members of the public, with some stressing that citizens have a right to document police conduct in public spaces.
The development also comes against the backdrop of a March 17 judgment of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed the right of Nigerians to record police officers while performing their duties in public.
Giwa said the engagement between the police leadership and the NBA showed that disagreements could be addressed through constructive dialogue.
He maintained that technology should be used to strengthen accountability rather than create unnecessary confrontation, stressing that both the police and citizens ultimately have a shared responsibility to promote professionalism, justice and a safer Nigeria.
