Reports that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, gave Nigerians orders to physically attack and hurl stones at police officials who ask to inspect their cell phones have been refuted by the Nigeria Police Force.
A screenshot of a report attributed to the IGP that said, “Beat up any policeman who asks to check your phone, stone him if he has a gun, make sure you fight back because it is your right to have a phone,” went viral on Sunday, according to the report.
Nigeria Police responded by calling the report a hoax in a statement released by Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The assertion “is entirely false and has no basis in reality,” the Force PRO said.
“No such command promoting violence against law enforcement officers has been issued by the IGP.
Rather, he has urged people to use the proper channels to report cases of police brutality.
“Instead of using violence, this strategy emphasizes the value of accountability and upholding the rule of law,” the statement continued.
