Police frown at officer on stop-and-search who wear plain cloths, reveals dress code, punishment

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Police Force has declared that officers on stop-and-search duties must be in uniform with their names visibly attached.

The revelation was made by the Force Police Public Relations Officer(FPPRO) Muyiwa Adejobi, in a post on his X handle on Monday, while reacting to a video in which four policemen in mufti stopped a driver on Lekki-Epe Express Way.

According to the report, the officers had approached the man to ask for his tinted permit, but he replied by asking for their identities, saying there was nothing to indicate they were policemen going by their mode of dressing.
But, Adejobi, in his response said the policemen “have been traced to Zone 2 and identified,” adding that “the AIG Zone 2 Lagos is investigating, while the PPRO Zone 2 will speak to it as soon as possible.”

Speaking further, Adejobi said the NPF had ordered that any policeman embarking on routine patrol or stop-and-search must be in uniform, properly dressed, allowing for easy identification.
He stressed that it is not advisable for officers to conduct stop-and-search operations while in plain clothes, emphasizing that such practices lead to misconduct when the officers’ identities are concealed.

Adejobi, Force PPRO

He stated, “You will recall that we have ordered and announced that any policeman embarking on routine patrol or stop and search must be in uniform, properly dressed, and easily identified. It’s not ideal to carry out a stop and search in mufti.

The audacity to misbehave or carry out unprofessional conduct comes when you know your identity is hidden and unknown. I still reiterate that policemen on stop and search and routine patrol must be in uniform. That is the standard in the police.”

Adejobi also highlighted the specific roles for plainclothes officers, noting that they should be engaged in surveillance or undercover activities rather than visible stop-and-search operations, especially when carrying long-range guns or rifles.

He urged police divisional heads to enforce these guidelines to maintain professionalism and standardization within the force.

“You will recall that we have ordered and announced that any policeman embarking on routine patrol or stop and search must be in uniform, properly dressed, and easily identified. It’s not ideal to carry out a stop and search in mufti.

“The audacity to misbehave or carry out unprofessional conduct comes when you know your identity is hidden and unknown. I still reiterate that policemen on stop and search and routine patrol must be in uniform. That is the standard in the police,” Adejobi said.

He added that “policemen in mufti are supposed to be on surveillance or undercover and not to be seen with long-range guns or rifles.

“This is what our DPOs and HODs should emphasise and enforce to bring sanity and standardisation.”