Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, emphasized on Saturday that refusing police officers entry or exit from a residence is a criminal offense.
In a statement shared on X, Edafe responded to a viral video showing a group of young men denying access to individuals dressed as police officers. The men in the video insisted they were content creators and not internet fraudsters, expressing their unease about the masks worn by the armed individuals.
During the altercation, one of the armed men discharged a firearm into the air, and subsequently, another individual gained entry to the property by climbing over the fence.
Edafe noted that wearing masks is prohibited within the Nigeria Police Force, but he cautioned against the misconception that it is acceptable to lock the police out of or within a residence. “Wearing a mask as a policeman raises a red flag and is not permitted in policing. However, we must understand that it is wrong to confine the police outside or inside a property; that is an offense in itself,” he stated.
He further added, “The incident cannot be justified solely because the policemen were masked. We are currently gathering information to determine the location of the incident so that a proper investigation can be conducted.”
Edafe also questioned the young men’s claim of not being internet fraudsters, noting that the police had not posed any questions to them.
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