LAGOS___The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed Corporal Opeyemi Kadiri for acting in breaching rules of engagement and flouting instructions from the Inspector General of Police.
He was dismissed following a viral video where the officer in broad day light was seen physically assaulting a young man, whose phone he collected and opened to peruse.
The voice of the young man whose identity has not been disclosed could be heard questioning the rational for collecting and searching his phone against the order of the IGP.
Opeyemi Kadiri, also threatened to smash the phone. It is not clear if he did.
But following an orderly room trial, the Opeyemi Kadiri has been dismissed, Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi said at press conference, adding that the development will serve as deterrent to other policemen.
“The issue of ANY Police Unit going to look into people’s phones, which is supposed to be their private property, or looking at the type of vehicle they‘re using, or profiling them to see whether they‘re yahoo boys or not—that era is gone. It is not acceptable!”, former IGP, Muhammed Adamu said.
The warning has also been repeated by Fore Public Relations officers, but policemen continue to act in apparent disobedience to the order.
Speaking on Channels TV, Adejobi, reechoed the order.
“Stop checking phones on the road. You can’t check somebody’s phone. It is his personal property. You cannot do it,” Adejobi said of an activity which Nigerians have repeatedly accused policemen of doing.
