The Osun State Police Command has revealed that recording officers while on duty is not illegal, stating that officers carrying out lawful assignments should not be afraid of being recorded.
The Commissioner of Police of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan said this on Wednesday in Osogbo at a workshop organized in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for Police officers and operatives of other security agencies.
Represented by ACP Ademola Adebayo, the CP however said recording atbthe premises of police station and other offices are prohibited.
The workshop is aimed at strengthening collaboration among security agencies to protect lives and property across the state during the yuletide period.
“Allowing recordings in our offices or premises can lead to abuse and embarrassment of parties involved in any case. That is the only area where recording is not allowed. Recording an officer on the road are allowed,” he said.
Speaking at the seminar, the Principal Legal Officer of the Osun State Office of the NHRC, Mr Oluwafemi Balogun, said the programme was designed to train and retrain law enforcement officers on different aspects of policing, with emphasis on human rights protection.
Balogun noted that while there had been improvements in the respect for human rights in Osun State compared to previous years, more work still needed to be done.
“Human rights belong to every human being. There has been improvement in Osun State, but there are still challenges. We interacted with officers, listened to their concerns and deliberated on the way forward. There is also a need for more funding to enable them perform their duties effectively,” he said.
Also speaking, Investigation Officer of the NHRC, Mr Aminu Sodiq Bayonle, said cases of human rights violations by security agencies had reduced significantly.
According to him, officers are now better educated on both their rights and the rights of citizens, adding that recording security officers while on duty is not against the law.
“If an officer is doing the right thing, there is no reason to be afraid of being recorded,” Bayonle said, adding that the NHRC plans to organise more training programmes for security agencies in Osun State.
In a similar development, the CP Gotan has deployed tactical squad to the state for curb the banditry which was recently recorded in Ora-Igbomina, Ifedayo local government area of the state.
Spokesperson of Osun Command, Abiodun Ojelabi in a statement on Thursday said the deployment was in collaboration with the state government under Governor Ademola Adeleke.
“This deployment is aim at strengthening security across State, preventing further criminal activities.
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Gotan, mnips is using this medium to re-assure the good people of Osun State of adequate security before, during and after yuletide season, while urging the community to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely ad credible information that can aid ongoing operations. He also warns criminals to desist from all forms of criminalities as security agencies have fully prepare to deal decisively with anyone found threatening the public peace and safety,” Ojelabi said.
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