ILORIN – The Kwara State Police Command has reinforced a zero-tolerance policy towards officer misconduct, explicitly prohibiting the extortion of citizens, unlawful searches of mobile phones, and the wrongful profiling of youths.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, issued the directive on Friday during a meeting with senior officers, including Deputy Commissioners, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders.
The order, which aligns with the national reform agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, mandates that any officer found violating citizens’ rights or engaging in unethical practices will face severe disciplinary action.
CP Ojo specified that officers are forbidden from interfering in civil matters, conducting arbitrary searches of individuals’ phones on roads, or maliciously labeling young people as internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as ‘Yahoo boys.’
“Officers who interfere in purely civil cases without criminal elements, unlawfully search citizens’ phones, or maliciously label youths are committing grave offences,” Ojo stated. He clarified that phone searches are only permissible when the device has been formally established as an exhibit in a criminal investigation.
The Commissioner reassured the public, particularly students and youth, of the command’s commitment to upholding their fundamental rights. “The era of intimidation and wrongful profiling is over in Kwara State,” he affirmed, while also urging young citizens to remain law-abiding.
Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement
In a related development, the command announced that a strict enforcement exercise for tinted vehicle glass permits will commence on October 2, 2025. The police warned that motorists found without a valid permit, or in possession of a fake or expired document, will be prosecuted within 24 hours.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, advised drivers to carry the original copies of their permits at all times. She also encouraged the public to report any incidents of extortion during the enforcement period through the command’s official complaint channels.
National Policy Context
This directive reflects a broader initiative within the Nigeria Police Force. On January 27, 2025, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen-Otimeyin, issued a similar warning to officers upon assuming duty, emphasizing that the prohibition on extortion and random phone searches is a standing order from the IGP.
