IGP To Nigerians: Search Policemen Before Letting Them Search You

Mr Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police, on Thursday, charged Nigerians to first search any officer who wants to search their vehicle or house.

IGP Idris said this today during his Twitter chat with Nigerians where the citizens used the hash tag #AskThePolice to ask him questions about the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)

A Twitter user, Christian Kanu, with the username @Chirstka7 had asked “what is the flow process when a police officer stops a citizen? Can it include the officer introducing him/herself as 1st action point? Introduction means name, rank and station attached to. Is this possible IGP Sir?”

The police chief respond, “Yes, especially if he is on mufti – he is expected to introduce him/ herself. And his mission. For avoidance of any doubt.”

Mr Idris added that, “If an officer wants to search you in your house/ car, he must first surrender himself for searching. This is the procedure. Ask politely.”

THE WHISTLER reports that the Police Inspector-General held the twitter chat with the citizens amid his face off with the leadership of the Nigerian Senate.

Following his inability to personally honour the summons of the Senate on three occasions, some citizens criticised the Police IG for allegedly being lawless.

But addressing some of the allegations during the Twitter chat, Mr Idris said: “I did not refuse to honor the Senate’s invitation. In fact I promptly responded by delegating the DIG Operations at the first invitation while I was away with Mr President in Bauchi on an official assignment.

He added that, “At the second invitation, I was at Birnin Gwari for an operational on the spot security assessment. My DIG Research and Planning was delegated to brief the Senate on my behalf, which is allowed by the Constitution and the Police Act and Regulations.”

Mr Idris further denied flouting President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to relocate to Benue State at the peak of killings in the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

“I was in Benue State. I held a stakeholder meeting with the Governor in attendance, the Speaker House of Assembly, the Tor Tiv, and other traditional and religious leaders in the State. I was in Guma (Gbajimba LG), Logo, before visiting Tunga in Nassarawa,” he said.

On the trending video of him allegedly being unable to read his speech at an event, Mr Idris said “Yes it was doctored.”