The Nigeria Police Force has intensified enforcement of its social media policy, sanctioning no fewer than 10 officers in the last one month.
Findings revealed that the affected officers were punished for various infractions, with sanctions ranging from dismissal and demotion to severe reprimand and demobilisation.
A senior police officer, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the actions followed heightened surveillance of personnel activities on social media platforms.
“The Force is actively monitoring social media platforms and identifying erring officers who are being sanctioned accordingly.
“So far, 10 officers have been punished. One officer was dismissed, another was reduced in rank, while others received punishments ranging from severe reprimand to demobilisation,” the source disclosed.
The source further revealed that one of the most recent cases involved a female officer, Anemena Favour, who was demoted from the rank of Sergeant to Corporal for conducting a live broadcast on TikTok while dressed in 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.
“This followed the review of an orderly-room proceeding by the Department of Finance and Administration at the Force Headquarters, Abuja,” the source added.
Another police source explained that officers handed severe reprimands would be barred from promotions and certain benefits for six months.
“Such officers will also forfeit additional benefits that may arise within the period.
“Before now, the Force had been sensitising officers to the social media policy, particularly through training programmes at police colleges, to prevent future violations,” the source said.
A copy of the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy obtained by PUNCH Metro warns against unauthorised use of social media by officers, except in limited cases based on rank and official designation.
“All police personnel are prohibited from identifying themselves directly or indirectly on their social media accounts as police officers, except where they are expressly authorised to do so.
“For the purpose of this policy, only the following persons are authorised to fully identify themselves as police officers and use their police uniforms, ranks, logos and insignia on their social media handles: the Inspector-General of Police; Zonal Command Assistant Inspectors-General and State Command Commissioners of Police; the Force Public Relations Officer; Zonal and State Police Public Relations Officers; PPROs of police training institutions and formations; and the officer in charge of the Complaint Response Unit,” the document partly read.
Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone lines were not answered and a text message sent to him had yet to be 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, with viral videos and live broadcasts involving officers in uniform often sparking public debate and leading to disciplinary actions.