Lagos Police warn content creators against harassing, obstructing officers

By Adebola Muili

The Lagos State Police Command has warned social media content creators against harassing, provoking or obstructing police officers in the discharge of their duties, cautioning that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

The warning followed the circulation of a video showing a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle, identified as ‘RRS Attack 07’, driving against the normal direction of traffic before some individuals confronted and allegedly obstructed the operatives.

In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, explained that the officers were responding to distress calls from motorists and other individuals trapped in the same traffic congestion.

According to the statement, the patrol team, led by an Inspector of Police, was detailed by the Command’s Control Room to intervene and clear the obstruction to restore the free flow of traffic.

Adebisi said the RRS team was the closest available police formation to the location and immediately responded to the calls.

She explained that the operatives had to navigate through the opposite lane to reach the point where the obstruction originated and effectively address the situation.

The Command maintained that the decision to drive against the normal direction of traffic was a deliberate operational measure taken in the interest of public safety and the convenience of other road users, rather than an arbitrary disregard for traffic regulations.

It further explained that traffic congestion in Lagos, if not promptly addressed, could spread to adjoining roads, disrupt economic activities and potentially prevent emergency services from gaining access to affected areas.

To justify the action, the Command cited Regulation 158 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, which permits an officer of the law driving under emergency circumstances or while engaged in civil protection to disregard the directions of prescribed traffic signs, provided due regard is given to the safety of other road users.

However, the police expressed concern over what they described as the confrontation, harassment and deliberate obstruction of the officers while carrying out the assignment.

The Command said the conduct of the individuals involved, including their utterances captured in the video, raised concerns about possible personal animosity and an attempt to undermine officers performing their lawful duties.

It also faulted the alleged deliberate blocking of the road by the individuals, noting that the action denied other motorists access and infringed on the rights of other road users.

The police further stated that obstructing officers in the lawful discharge of their duties constituted an offence under Section 98 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

While acknowledging the right of citizens to express concerns, demand accountability and criticise police conduct, the Command stressed that such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the confines of the law.

It said it would not condone deliberate intimidation, harassment, provocation or obstruction of police officers carrying out lawful operational assignments.

The Command particularly cautioned social media content creators against deliberately provoking or harassing police personnel to generate sensational online content or demoralise officers.

It described the use of police personnel as subjects of deliberately orchestrated confrontations for online engagement as unacceptable, warning that anyone found culpable of an offence would be made to face the law.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the Command’s commitment to professional, responsive and accountable policing, assuring residents that the police would continue to protect lives and property, maintain public order and ensure the free movement of persons and vehicles across the state.