Police Can Break Doors, Search Phones of Cybercrime Suspects — Deputy Force PRO
By Erewunmi Peace
The Nigeria Police Force says its operatives have the right to break doors, scale fences, or even enter through ceilings when arresting uncooperative suspects.
Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Victor Isuku, made this known while addressing concerns over police powers during cybercrime investigations.
According to him, officers may also examine a suspect’s mobile phone if there is reasonable suspicion of involvement in cybercrime.
“The police will not just stop you on the road and begin to search your phone. It is unethical, and the Inspector-General of Police frowns at such practices. But when there is reasonable suspicion of cybercrime, the police can check a suspect’s phone,” Isuku explained.
He further stated that the law empowers the police to force entry when a suspect resists arrest, noting that such actions are covered under criminal procedure rules.
The statement has sparked debate among Nigerians, with many questioning how the police would balance investigative powers with citizens’ constitutional rights to privacy and due process.
Legal experts argue that while police officers may act on reasonable suspicion, searches and forced entries must still align with the Nigerian Constitution, which protects individuals against unlawful arrest and invasion of privacy.
The Nigeria Police Force has repeatedly warned its officers against random stop-and-search practices, particularly those involving mobile phones, insisting that such actions without legal basis remain unethical and punishable.
