The Nigeria Police has made it mandatory for its personnel to wear proper uniform with visible name-tag during stop and search operations.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, who made the statement, emphasized that officers engaged in routine patrols or stop-and-search operations must wear proper uniforms, allowing for easy identification. He stressed that it was not advisable for officers to conduct stop-and-search operations while in plain clothes, because such practices lead to misconduct when the officers’ identities are concealed.
Adejobi shared the statement on his official handle in response to a video showing four plain-cloth policemen on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, stopping a driver and requesting the driver’s tinted glass permit, while the driver who sought their identities, highlighted the absence of visible police marks.
In addressing the incident, Adejobi stated that the policemen involved “have been traced to Zone 2 and the AIG Zone 2 Lagos is investigating, while the PPRO Zone 2 will speak to it as soon as possible.”
He stated, “ It’s not ideal to carry out a stop and search in mufti. The audacity to misbehave or carry out unprofessional conduct comes when you know your identity is hidden and unknown. I still reiterate that policemen on stop and search and routine patrol must be in uniform. That is the standard in the police.”
Adejobi also highlighted the specific roles for plain-cloth officers. He noted that they should be engaged in surveillance or undercover activities rather than visible stop-and-search operations, especially when carrying long-range guns or rifles.
He however urged police divisional heads to enforce these guidelines to maintain professionalism and standardization within the force.
“This is what our DPOs and HODs should emphasise and enforce to bring sanity and standardisation” he stated.
