Armed Robbery or Law Enforcement? Nigerian Police Defend Breaking into Properties Without Warrants – Spokesperson

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) ‘s Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said that police personnel have the authority to enter any property without a warrant if they reasonably suspect a crime is occurring. Adejobi made this statement on Saturday while responding to a viral video showing masked, armed officers invading private property in an unprofessional manner.

The video, shared on X by @General_Somto, captured masked officers in improper attire, armed with AK-47 rifles, scaling the fence of a residential property and firing shots to disperse the occupants. The officers demanded entry but were resisted by the occupants, who requested proper identification and a search warrant.

In the video, a man believed to be the property owner is heard stating:

Imagine police people with facemasks come into my house to force our door, said that we are fraudsters.

The masked officers responded aggressively, firing a shot, prompting the residents to retreat indoors. One officer then scaled the fence and opened the gate for his colleague.

Reacting to the incident, ACP Adejobi defended the police’s power to enter premises without a warrant in cases where they suspect an ongoing crime. However, he criticised the officers’ conduct, saying:

Lets clarify an issue here. The police have the power to break into any house or place where they are reasonably convinced an offence is being committed. That is understandable. But I am not too ok with their dressing and appearance. It is improper dressing. Policemen are not allowed to wear masks or tie head gear. These are 2 issues we need to iron out. What is the offence of the people to have warranted breaking in, and why this dressing? I wish I knew the location so that we could direct these questions to the men involved. However, I have shared the video with d PPROs to locate the men. We need to investigate the scene captured in the video. Thanks.

Adejobi also expressed concern about the lack of professionalism and transparency in the operation, adding that he had shared the video with relevant authorities to identify and investigate the officers involved.

READ ALSO: Despite Ban on Night Raids, EFCC Officials Continue Breaking Into Suspect Homes at Midnight Like Robbers

Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had earlier told Nigerians to refrain from using social media to report the conduct of police officers. He said this at the PPROs/Police Communication Experts’ Conference in Asaba, Delta State, in November 2024. The IG emphasised that using social media to address grievances often leads to misinformation and undermines the integrity of the police force while asking citizens to direct such complaints to the Police Complaints Response Unit.

This statement by Adejobi follows recent controversies surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over their continued night raids despite an internal directive banning such operations. On January 17, 2025, an EFCC officer was killed and another critically injured during a nighttime operation targeting suspected internet fraudsters in Ifite, Awka, Anambra State.

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