The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has prohibited officers of the Nigeria Police Force from creating, publishing, or monetising content on social media platforms while identifying themselves as police personnel.
The directive, contained in an internal police circular dated Monday applies to platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. It was distributed to police formations and commands across the country.
According to the circular, the police leadership expressed concern over the increasing involvement of officers in social media content creation, describing it as a trend capable of damaging the image, professionalism, and effectiveness of the force.
Under the new order, officers are barred from creating, publishing, or sharing videos, photographs, skits, live streams, and related content while wearing police uniforms or operating within police facilities without obtaining written approval from the IGP or an authorised representative.
The directive also prohibits officers from operating personal or anonymous social media accounts for entertainment, commercial promotion, or brand endorsements connected to their status as members of the police force. In addition, officers are forbidden from publicly commenting on investigations, disciplinary matters, deployments, or other official police issues.
The circular further stated that officers must not accept sponsorships, endorsement agreements, or monetisation opportunities that rely on their identity as police personnel.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined institution whose effectiveness depends on public trust, institutional integrity, and the professional conduct of every officer,” the circular stated.
The IGP warned that officers who violate the directive could face severe disciplinary measures, including interdiction, forfeiture of salary during disciplinary proceedings, demotion, dismissal from service, and prosecution under applicable criminal or cybercrime laws.
The directive also places responsibility on senior officers, including commissioners of police, area commanders, and divisional police officers, to monitor compliance. Supervisors who fail to take action against offending personnel may also face sanctions.
Commissioners of police in all states have been directed to circulate the order to officers under their command within seven days and submit compliance reports through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations within 14 days.
The latest directive comes weeks after Disu cautioned content creators and members of the public against recording and sharing police-related videos without proper context.
Speaking during an interactive session with crime correspondents in Abuja on May 31, 2026, the IGP warned that the circulation of police operation videos could undermine security efforts and affect the morale of officers.
“We urge members of the public and social media users to refrain from recycling old or manipulated videos capable of creating panic or undermining national security efforts,” he said at the time.
The new order also mirrors a similar policy introduced by former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu on June 17, 2020. That directive prohibited police officers from using photographs of themselves in uniform on personal social media accounts and from engaging in posts or discussions deemed political, religious, or damaging to the image of the force.
The 2020 policy also restricted officers from identifying themselves as police personnel online, except for authorised spokespersons and senior officers designated to communicate on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force.
The renewed restrictions reflect the police leadership’s effort to strengthen discipline, maintain public confidence, and regulate the online activities of officers as social media continues to play a growing role in public engagement and law enforcement accountability.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
