The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, has clarified that it is an offence to deny police officers entry or exit from a property.
Edafe addressed the issue on Saturday in a post on X, responding to a viral video in which young men refused entry to individuals dressed as police officers.
In the video, the men, identifying themselves as content creators rather than internet fraudsters, expressed concerns over the masks worn by the armed individuals. The situation escalated when one of the masked men fired a shot in the air before scaling the fence to gain access.
Edafe acknowledged that the use of masks is prohibited within the Nigeria Police Force but emphasised that blocking police access to premises is unlawful.
“Wearing a mask as a policeman is a red flag and not allowed in policing,” Edafe wrote. “However, denying the police entry or exit is another offence on its own.”
He further stated, “That incident cannot be defended simply because the policemen were masked. We are awaiting details of where it occurred so proper investigation can be conducted.”
Edafe also questioned why the men claimed they were not fraudsters when the police had not made any accusations.
