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FCT Police Boss Sanusi: Phone Searches at Checkpoints Are Illegal
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FCT Police Boss Sanusi: Phone Searches at Checkpoints Are Illegal

July 22, 2026 By BeatzHive Editorial 2 min read

FCT Police Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi Declares Roadside Phone Searches Illegal in Abuja

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Sanusi, has told residents of Abuja that they are under no obligation to hand their phones over to police officers during stop-and-search operations or routine arrests. Addressing journalists in the capital on Monday, according to reports, Sanusi described the practice as unlawful and urged citizens to resist it.

Sanusi Links the Directive to Extortion by Rogue Officers

The commissioner reportedly stated that no officer possesses the legal authority to demand access to a person’s phone on the road. He encouraged residents to raise an alarm the moment any officer attempts such a search, promising that the FCT Command would move in swiftly to intervene.

“Don’t allow any police officers to search your phone and we’re saying this due to the abuse and extortive tendencies of some of our officers,” Sanusi was quoted as saying.

His intervention follows mounting complaints from residents who accuse some officers of using phone checks as a cover for extortion. Several people have reportedly recounted being compelled to surrender their devices, only for officers to demand money before returning them.

Sanusi clarified that while the police retain the power to stop and search individuals, those searches must remain within the limits of the law and must not intrude on residents’ privacy. He warned that the command would not condone misconduct, pledging disciplinary measures against officers found guilty of extortion or abuse of power, and asked the public to report any incidents, assuring that complaints would be handled seriously.

A Public Push Against Checkpoint Harassment in the Capital

Concerns about the behaviour of officers at checkpoints have long featured in public conversation across Nigeria, and pronouncements like Sanusi’s are typically seen as an attempt to rebuild trust between the police and the communities they serve. When a senior commander publicly draws a legal line, it gives ordinary citizens a clear reference point for asserting their rights during encounters with security personnel.

According to the report, the directive has been well received by many Abuja residents, who view it as a tool for pushing back against harassment and holding erring officers to account. Whether it translates into changed conduct on the roads will depend on how firmly the command follows through on its promise of prompt response and discipline.

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