Kwara Police Commissioner Warns Officers Against Indiscriminate Search of Corps Members' Phones

In a decisive move to curb professional misconduct and protect the constitutional rights of Nigerian youths, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, has issued a stern warning to officers in the command against the indiscriminate searching of mobile phones belonging to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members. The directive, which has reverberated across the state's security apparatus, highlights the growing administrative focus on reforming police-citizen interactions.

Speaking during a recent visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Commissioner Olaiya emphasized that mobile phones are highly private spaces containing sensitive personal information. He declared that stopping corps members on the highways or within metropolitan areas to randomly ransack their digital devices without a legally backed warrant or clear, justifiable cause is a violation of police code of conduct.

According to official statements, the CP reassured the corps members that their security and welfare remain paramount to the command throughout their service year. The police boss noted that rather than feeling threatened by law enforcement agents, the corps members should see the police as their primary allies in an increasingly complex security landscape. He urged them to remain law-abiding, disciplined, and to promptly report any unethical behavior by officers to the appropriate quarters.