Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Sanusi, has issued a firm warning to Nigerians, particularly young people, not to allow police officers to search their mobile phones merely because they are suspected of engaging in internet fraud, popularly known as "Yahoo Yahoo." The police commissioner said indiscriminate phone searches by officers on the road violate the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, stressing that phones can only be searched after a lawful arrest and during the course of a criminal investigation.
Speaking in a video seen by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the commissioner acknowledged that some police officers and personnel of other security agencies had abused their powers by conducting arbitrary phone searches. "The issue of phones, searching of phones, you see, it has been clearly stated that, of course, due to the abuse and the stunted tendencies of some officers and men, of not only the policemen, but even other assistant agencies, it has been instructed that nobody should search any phones, especially when you just arrest somebody on the road... because you are suspecting the person to be a Yahoo Yahoo or something," he said.
Sanusi's warning comes amid repeated complaints by Nigerians, especially young people, over alleged harassment, extortion and arbitrary phone searches by some police officers and other security operatives despite repeated directives by the Inspector-General of Police prohibiting the practice. The commissioner stressed that the directive does not mean mobile phones cannot be used as evidence in criminal investigations. "This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But of course, before searching can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested, brought to the station. Then, when trying to uncover some evidence, you can now start searching to see whether the phones or other items are being used to commit or perpetrate such crime," he added.
The commissioner warned members of the public against surrendering their phones to officers who stop them on the road without lawful justification. "But for you to just stop anybody on the road and say, 'Let me bring your phone, let me search,' that's not right," he said. He urged residents of the FCT to refuse such requests and immediately report offending officers through the police emergency lines. "If any policeman stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, which we are bound to obey, don't open your phones. Resist, ask the nearby people to help you call the police emergency line. You will see our men there, and then we will ask them why, provided they are within the FCT." He added that persons outside the Federal Capital Territory should report such incidents to the command control centres in their respective states.
The police commissioner also vowed that officers who violate the directive would face disciplinary measures. "I can tell you for free that we are still against that, we still stand against that, we will still enforce the IG's directive. Some of them are on the take because they are criminally minded; they want to perpetrate such acts. If we get them, they will face disciplinary actions and will be made to face the consequences," he said.
The directive from the Inspector-General of Police, which Sanusi reiterated, is part of ongoing efforts to curb police misconduct and restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP had earlier prohibited indiscriminate phone searches and the profiling of young Nigerians as internet fraudsters without lawful justification. The directive has been communicated to all police formations across the country, but enforcement has remained a challenge, with many officers continuing to engage in the illegal practice.
Sanusi's warning is particularly significant given the widespread abuse of power by some police officers who use the suspicion of internet fraud as a pretext to extort money from innocent citizens. Many Nigerians, especially young people, have reported being stopped on the road, forced to unlock their phones, and subjected to searches without any lawful basis. In some cases, officers have demanded bribes or threatened to arrest individuals if they refused to comply. The commissioner's statement is a clear signal that such practices will no longer be tolerated.
The police commissioner's remarks have been welcomed by civil society organisations and human rights advocates, who have long called for an end to arbitrary phone searches and the profiling of young people as internet fraudsters. The Nigerian Bar Association has also condemned the practice, describing it as a violation of citizens' rights to privacy and dignity. The NBA has called on the police to adhere to the rule of law and ensure that any search of a citizen's phone is conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Sanusi's warning is also a reminder that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to reforming its image and restoring public trust. The force has been plagued by allegations of corruption, extortion, and human rights abuses, which have eroded public confidence in the institution. The IGP's directive on phone searches is part of broader efforts to address these issues and ensure that police officers conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law.
For ordinary Nigerians, the commissioner's message is clear: they have the right to refuse unlawful phone searches and to report any officer who violates their rights. The police emergency lines provided by the FCT command offer a mechanism for citizens to seek redress and hold officers accountable. Sanusi's assurance that violators would face disciplinary action is a positive step, but its effectiveness will depend on the willingness of the police leadership to enforce the directive and punish those who flout it.
The issue of arbitrary phone searches is not limited to the FCT. Similar complaints have been reported in other states, where police officers have been accused of stopping citizens on the road and searching their phones without lawful justification. The IGP's directive applies to all police formations across the country, and it is expected that commissioners of police in other states will follow Sanusi's example by reiterating the directive and warning their officers against the practice.
Sanusi's statement is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to reform the Nigeria Police Force and protect the rights of citizens. By openly acknowledging the abuse of power by some officers and vowing to take disciplinary action, the commissioner has demonstrated a commitment to accountability and the rule of law. His message to Nigerians to resist unlawful phone searches and report offending officers is a powerful reminder that citizens have a role to play in holding the police accountable.
As the Nigeria Police Force continues its reform journey, the challenge will be to ensure that directives such as the one on phone searches are fully implemented and enforced. The success of these efforts will depend on the leadership of the police hierarchy, the professionalism of officers, and the vigilance of citizens. Sanusi's warning is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to address the deep-seated issues of corruption and abuse of power within the force.
For now, the message from the FCT Police Commissioner is unequivocal: Nigerians must not allow officers to search their phones on suspicion of "Yahoo Yahoo" without lawful justification. The directive from the Inspector-General of Police is clear, and officers who violate it will face the consequences. Citizens are urged to know their rights, resist unlawful searches, and report any violations to the appropriate authorities.
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