The Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, CP Bassey Ewah, has warned officers and personnel of the command against unlawfully stopping members of the public to search their mobile phones without legal authorisation.
Ewah stressed that no officer of the Plateau State Police Command has the authority to demand access to or search the contents of a citizen’s mobile phone during routine patrols or stop-and-search operations without a valid court order, describing such conduct as unlawful, unprofessional and a violation of citizens’ rights.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Jos by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo.
According to the commissioner, the directive reflects the command’s zero-tolerance policy on misconduct and abuse of office.
He urged members of the public to politely decline any unlawful request to search their phones and report offending officers through the command’s designated complaint channels, including the ACP X-Squad, Public Relations Office, Complaint Response Unit, Police Complaint Bureau and Victims Complaint Response Unit.
Ewah assured residents that the command remains committed to protecting lives, property and the constitutional rights of all citizens while promoting professional, accountable and law-abiding policing.
He added that any officer found engaging in misconduct or violating the rights of members of the public would be sanctioned in accordance with the law.