Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, has declared that denying police officers entry or exit from a residence is a criminal offense.
Edafe made this statement on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a viral video showing a group of young men refusing to allow individuals, who appeared to be policemen, access to their compound.
In the video, the men, who claimed to be content creators, expressed suspicion about the armed men’s intentions, particularly because some of them were wearing masks. They also denied being internet fraudsters, although no such accusation was made.
The footage captured one of the armed individuals firing a shot into the air before scaling the fence to gain access to the property.
Reacting to the incident, Edafe emphasised that wearing masks is against the Nigeria Police Force’s regulations, describing it as a “red flag.”
However, he stressed that it is equally unlawful to obstruct officers from entering or leaving a residence.
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“Wearing a mask as a policeman is a red flag and is not allowed in policing,” he wrote. “However, we all should stop thinking it is right to lock the police either outside or inside a building. That’s another offense on its own.”
He added that while the conduct of the masked individuals would be investigated, citizens must respect police authority during such situations.
Edafe also questioned the young men’s insistence that they were not fraudsters, pointing out that the police did not accuse them of any wrongdoing in the video.
Authorities are currently working to identify the location of the incident to launch a proper investigation.
