Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Andrew Enwere has made it clear that officers who stop people to go through the contents of their phones and laptops are on an illegal mission and such officers end up in jail.
SP Andrew Nwerem made the remark at the Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, when members of Imo State Bloggers Association ISBA paid him a courtesy visit, said unless such individuals or their gadgets are subjects of an investigation or there is a petition for them to be searched, no officer has the right to stop anyone and start going through their phone.
He also said that is very wrong for officers to assume a person is a criminal because of their hairstyle or what they are wearing. He then urged the bloggers and Imolites in general to call his line whenever an officer stops them to ask for receipts of their laptops or making attempts to forcefully go through the contents of their phones or laptop.
Imo PPRO, SP Andrew Enwere (4th from left) and members of Imo State Bloggers Association ISBA when the group paid him a visit, May 1, 2018
“Officers who have behave in that manner, have always ended up in the cell”. He said.
SP Nwerem urged the bloggers to be objective in their reporting, adding that the command is running an open door police and will always respond to their questions.
He said that the command has done enough in the state, making it one of the most secured states in the country, a reason people can enjoy night life in the city of Owerri without being afraid.
While assuring the bloggers that the command will partner with them in spreading the activities of the command across the internet and social media especially, he told the bloggers that they will be giving access to suspects whenever the command is having a press briefing.
Responding, the ISBA President, Comr. Chinedu Hardy Nwadike, thanked the Imo Police PRO for hosting them, hailing them for the giant strides they have achieved in ensuring that people of the state are safe.
Comr. Nwadike assured him that ISBA will do everything possible to ensure that their new partnership with the police yields positive results that will not only inform people of Imo State, but also spread the works of the police in the state across the globe.
