ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Police Force has disciplined at least 10 officers in the past month for violating its social media policy, imposing penalties ranging from dismissal and demotion to severe reprimand and demobilisation, according to senior police officials.
The sanctions followed increased monitoring of officers’ online activities, a senior police source said on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
“The Force is actively monitoring social media platforms and identifying erring officers who are being sanctioned accordingly,” the source said.
“So far, 10 officers have been punished. One officer was dismissed, another was reduced in rank, while others received punishments ranging from severe reprimand to demobilisation.”
Recent Disciplinary Cases
One of the most recent cases involved a female officer, Anemena Favour, who was demoted from the rank of Sergeant to Corporal after conducting a live broadcast on TikTok while wearing her police uniform.
According to the source, Ms. Favour, who is attached to the Special Protection Unit Base 25 in Asaba, Delta State, was found guilty of discreditable conduct and disobedience of lawful orders.
“She was found guilty under Paragraphs E(iii) and F of Police Regulation 370, Act 2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2020, and was immediately reduced in rank,” the source said.
The disciplinary action followed a review of orderly-room proceedings by the Department of Finance and Administration at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the official added.
Another police source said officers who receive severe reprimands are barred from promotions and certain benefits for six months.
“Such officers will also forfeit additional benefits that may arise within the period,” the source said. “Before now, the Force had been sensitising officers to the social media policy, particularly through training programmes at police colleges, to prevent future violations.”
Social Media Policy Provisions
A copy of the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy obtained on Tuesday outlines restrictions on officers’ online activities, with limited exceptions based on rank and official responsibilities.
The policy, which is divided into 18 sections, allows officers and auxiliary staff to use social media platforms of their choice, subject to strict rules.
“All police personnel are prohibited from identifying themselves directly or indirectly on their social media accounts as police officers, except where they are expressly authorised to do so,” the document states.
It adds that only specific officials are permitted to fully identify themselves online using police uniforms, ranks, logos and insignia.
Those authorised include the Inspector-General of Police, zonal and state command heads, the Force Public Relations Officer, zonal and state public relations officers, designated training institution spokespersons and the officer in charge of the Complaint Response Unit.
Official Responses
Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone lines were not answered and a text message had not received a reply as of the time of filing.
Attempts to contact the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, also did not yield a response.
Growing Scrutiny of Online Conduct
Public displays by police officers on social media have increasingly drawn scrutiny from security authorities, particularly as videos and live broadcasts involving officers in uniform have circulated widely in recent years.
Such posts have frequently generated public debate and, in some cases, prompted internal investigations and disciplinary measures.
Police officials said the latest round of sanctions reflects renewed efforts to enforce existing regulations and curb unauthorised online conduct among officers.
