Don’t allow phone searches, FCT CP urges residents, youths

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi has instructed residents, particularly young people, not to permit police officers to search their mobile phones during stop-and-search operations. Sanusi emphasized that these actions contravene the directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police.

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The issue of phone searching has been clearly stated. Due to the abuse and extortion tendencies of some officers and men, not only of the Police but even other sister agencies, it has been instructed that nobody should search any phone.

Speaking at a press conference, Sanusi explained that the prohibition on random phone searches stems from the potential for abuse and extortion by some officers. He clarified that while phones can be crucial evidence in criminal investigations, searches should only occur after a suspect has been lawfully arrested and brought to a police station.

"This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station," Sanusi said. He stressed that officers should not stop individuals on the road and demand access to their phones based solely on suspicion of internet fraud or other offenses.

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This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station. Then, when trying to uncover some evidence, you can now start searching to see whether the phone or other items have been used to commit or perpetrate such crime.

"Any policeman who stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, we are bound to obey to the last of it. Don’t agree. Don’t open your phones. Resist," he urged. Sanusi advised the public to seek help by contacting the police emergency line or nearby officers if confronted by officers demanding to search their phones. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to enforcing the Inspector-General's directive, warning that any officer found violating it would face disciplinary action.

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But for you to just stop anybody on the road and say, ‘Bring your phone, let me search. Or, you have so and so amount on your phone’, any policeman who stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, we are bound to obey to the last of it. Don’t agree. Don’t open your phones. Resist.