Post by Henry Emeka (@Emekus)

Your Excellency President Tinubu, Opposition parties, independent candidates
240 million Nigerians are writing to express deep concern regarding the recent warning issued by the Inspector-General of Police on May 31, 2026, about the recording and circulation of police videos. While the intention may be to protect operational integrity, many Nigerians believe that such warnings should be directed instead toward addressing long-standing security failures, including the ongoing threat of boko haram, which has taken countless Nigerians lives since 1999.

For years, 240 million Nigerians have called for essential reforms: equipping police, DSS, military, and air force personnel with body cameras, and installing CCTV systems across all 36 states and 774 local government areas. These measures are standard in many countries and are proven tools for transparency, accountability, and crime prevention. Unfortunately, these requests have not been implemented.

240 million Nigerians should not be threatened, harmed, or arrested for recording police officers. Public recording is a vital safeguard in a nation where trust in government institutions—including the police, military, EFCC, courts, and INEC—has been eroded over decades due to corruption and abuse. If any officer does not wish to be recorded, they should reconsider their role in public service. Accountability is non-negotiable.

The international community—including the United States, the United Kingdom, and many others—has observed Nigeria’s governance challenges for decades. Protecting 240 million Nigerians is the responsibility of the Nigerian government. If institutions fail to uphold this duty, external scrutiny will only intensify.

The priority must be rescuing kidnapped children, addressing the root causes of insurgency, and restoring public trust. Nigerians demand immediate installation of CCTV systems nationwide in the 36 states 774LGA and mandatory body cameras for all security agencies. These tools will protect both 240 million Nigerians and officers.

It is also troubling that many religious leaders have remained silent despite the suffering of kidnapped and murdered children. Leadership requires empathy, courage, and moral clarity. Respectfully as First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu’s voice carries weight, and many expect her to champion the protection of Nigerian children with compassion and urgency.

Additionally, the continued existence of the DSS alongside the police raises questions about duplication of roles and inefficient use of public funds. Many Nigerians believe that resources should be redirected toward comprehensive police reform rather than maintaining overlapping agencies.

No Nigerian should ever be killed, harmed, or imprisoned for recording the police. Transparency strengthens democracy; it does not weaken it.

We urge your administration to take immediate action: implement nationwide CCTV in the 36 states 774 LGA, mandate body cameras for all security personnel, reform policing structures, and prioritize the safe return of all kidnapped children.

Nigeria can do better, and Nigerians deserve better.

https://historicalnigeria.com/boko-haram-insurgency-historical-roots-and-contemporary-impact/

https://guardian.ng/news/igp-calls-for-responsible-use-of-police-related-video-content-strengthens-media-partnership/?utm_source=copilot.com

0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares