The Nigeria Police Force’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has prohibited current officers and men from participating in unapproved social media activities, such as making videos, live streaming, posting skits, and making money off of content on websites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other comparable platforms while claiming to be police officers.

The police chief issued a warning in a circular dated June 22 and signed by his Principal Staff Officer, stating that any officer found to be in violation of the directive would be subject to harsh disciplinary actions, such as immediate suspension from duty, salary forfeiture, demotion, dismissal from the Force, and potential criminal prosecution.

The memo claims that the IGP voiced concern about the alarming and expanding tendency of police officers producing social media posts without formal authorisation.

Read the circular below;

officers have been “producing and posting videos of themselves in police uniform on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms for entertainment, personal promotion, and financial gain, operating social media accounts under their real names or pseudonyms in ways capable of bringing the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute, publicly commenting on official police operations, disciplinary matters, internal affairs and national security issues without authorisationand aspiring to become full-time social media content creators while still serving in the Force and  making statements and sharing opinions on sensitive issues that undermine public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.’