…says any officers who unlawfully search citizens’ phones or label young Nigerians as ‘Yahoo boys’ are committing grave offences.
ILORIN, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, has issued a strong and unambiguous directive to officers under his command, warning that harassment, extortion, and the profiling of young Nigerians as internet fraudsters will no longer be tolerated.
Addressing key personnel including Deputy Commissioners, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders during a high-level meeting in Ilorin on Friday, CP Ojo made it clear that such practices are now deemed serious infractions under the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“Officers who interfere in purely civil matters without any criminal element, unlawfully search citizens’ phones, or label young Nigerians as ‘Yahoo boys’ are committing grave offences and will be sanctioned accordingly,” Ojo declared.
He emphasized that the command will impose the most severe disciplinary measures on any officer found guilty of human rights violations or misconduct, describing these actions as incompatible with modern policing standards.
Ojo categorically banned the indiscriminate checking of mobile phones on roads or at checkpoints, insisting such searches are only lawful when a phone has been identified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation.
“The era of intimidation and wrongful profiling is over in Kwara State,” he said. “We are fully committed to protecting the dignity and rights of all citizens, especially our young people and students.”
In a related development, the command announced the full enforcement of tinted glass permits beginning October 2, 2025. Motorists driving without a valid permit or those using expired or counterfeit documents will be charged to court within 24 hours of arrest.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, urged motorists to carry original tinted glass permits at all times and encouraged the public to report any incidents of extortion during enforcement activities through the command’s designated complaint channels.
This crackdown in Kwara mirrors similar action in Edo State, where Commissioner of Police Betty Enekpen-Otimeyin, the state’s 49th police chief, earlier this year warned her officers against extortion and unlawful phone searches. She stressed that such actions are only permitted within the context of a legitimate investigation, in line with orders from the Inspector-General.
The unified stance by commissioners across states signals a growing momentum within the Nigerian Police Force to reform its image, uphold human rights, and rebuild public trust.
As enforcement begins, all eyes will remain on the command’s consistency in punishing erring officers and ensuring this is not just another policy buried in bureaucracy.
