Police dismiss officer for searching commuter’s phone

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed an officer, Corporal Opeyemi Kadiri, for searching a commuter’s phone number.

The officer was caught on camera searching the commuter’s phone by the road side, contrary to the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

In the video, the victim could be heard protesting against the policeman’s demand to search for his phone, saying the IGP had warned against it.

His protest, however, fell on deaf ears and the cop assaulted him.

• CAN threatens to expose higher schools discriminating against Christians
• Wike: I didn’t authorise suit challenging Atiku’s ticket

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, annoced Kadiri’s dismissal in a statement on Friday.

Kadiri was attached to Dolphin Divisional Headquarters, Lagos Police Command.

The statement reads in parts, “The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed Force No. 509745 Corporal Opeyemi Kadiri attached to Dolphin Divisional Headquarters, Lagos Police Command for gross misconduct, disobedience to lawful order, and assault on a member of the public captured in a viral video on August 3, 2022.

“The dismissed officer who, enlisted into the Force on 6th December, 2016, was caught searching a commuter’s phone by the road side contrary to the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, to that effect. He equally assaulted the commuter who attempted to bring the order to his notice. His dismissal takes effect from today, the 12th of August, 2022.

“The police hereby calls on officers and men of the Force to maintain professionalism and civility to members of the public in the discharge of their duties in line with extant laws. The Force equally calls on members of the public to ensure proper conduct in all encounters with police officers to avoid infractions which may be subject to prosecution.”