…as Police monitor officers’ activities across social media platforms.
Abuja, Nigeria – The iNews Times, has learnt that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has intensified enforcement of its social media policy, sanctioning no fewer than 10 officers within the past month over various violations.
Findings indicate that the disciplinary actions range from outright dismissal and demotion to severe reprimand and demobilisation, following increased monitoring of officers’ activities across social media platforms.
A senior police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak to the media, disclosed on Tuesday that the Force has stepped up digital surveillance to identify erring personnel.
“The Force is actively monitoring social media platforms and identifying officers who violate the policy. So far, 10 officers have been punished. One was dismissed, another reduced in rank, while others received sanctions ranging from severe reprimand to demobilisation,” the source said.
One of the most recent cases involved a female officer, Anemena Favour, who was demoted from the rank of Sergeant to Corporal after conducting a live broadcast on TikTok while wearing police uniform.
Favour, with force number 068919 and attached to the Special Protection Unit Base 25 in Asaba, Delta State, was found guilty of discreditable conduct and disobedience of lawful orders.
“She was found guilty under Paragraphs E(iii) and F of Police Regulation 370, Act 2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2020, and was immediately reduced in rank,” the source said, adding that the action followed a review of the orderly-room proceedings by the Department of Finance and Administration at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Another police source revealed that officers who receive severe reprimands would be barred from promotions and certain benefits for a period of six months.
“Such officers will also forfeit any additional benefits that may accrue within that period,” the source explained.
The source added that the Force had, prior to the recent sanctions, embarked on sensitisation programmes at police colleges and training institutions to educate officers on the provisions of the social media policy and prevent future violations.
A copy of the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy obtained by The iNews Times warns against unauthorised use of social media by officers, with limited exceptions based on rank and official designation.
The policy, which is divided into 18 sections, allows police officers and auxiliary staff to use social media platforms of their choice, subject to strict rules, restrictions and exceptions.
“All police personnel are prohibited from identifying themselves directly or indirectly on their social media accounts as police officers, except where expressly authorised,” the document states.
It further lists officers permitted to fully identify themselves online using police uniforms, ranks, logos and insignia to include the Inspector-General of Police; Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General; State Commissioners of Police; the Force Public Relations Officer; Zonal and State Police Public Relations Officers; Public Relations Officers of police training institutions and formations; and the officer in charge of the Complaint Response Unit.
Efforts to obtain official reactions proved unsuccessful. Calls to the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, were not answered, while a text message sent to him had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.
Similarly, attempts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful.
Public display of police officers on social media has continued to raise concerns among security authorities, as viral videos and live broadcasts involving officers in uniform have frequently triggered public debate and disciplinary actions.
