IGP Prohibits Police officers from using TikTok, Facebook, other social media platforms

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has issued a directive prohibiting police officers in the Nigeria Police Force from participating in any unauthorized social media activity, with violators facing the threat of dismissal, demotion, loss of pay and possible criminal charges.

This directive applies to officers who use applications such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites to create content as officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

It is found in an internal circular letter dated June 22, 2026, marked as “Restricted – For Official Use Only” and addressed to top brass in the police force in Nigeria, including zonal Assistant Inspectors-General, Commissioners of Police, commanders of the Police Mobile Force and other units.

In the circular, the Force noted the emerging trend among its officers to post videos, go live and create paid content as officers of the force, whether in uniform or in settings where they can be identified as police officers.

In the directive, officers are not permitted to create and post skits, photos, go live or post any type of content when in uniform or in the premises of the police force without written permission.

It is further forbidden for officers to create private or anonymous accounts for recreational or financial reasons which take advantage of their position as law enforcement officials.

The restrictions also apply to any comments made about sensitive police affairs such as deployments, investigations, operations, promotions, and disciplinary cases.

According to the new directive, police officers will also not be allowed to accept sponsorships or endorsement deals from anyone based on their position as police officers.

As part of the new enforcement process, vicarious liability has been incorporated into the process whereby senior police officers will have a duty to supervise the social media activities of the officers under their supervision.

Police Commissioners, DPOs and other supervisory officers who fail to identify or report violations will also face disciplinary procedures.

All police commands in the country have been required to adopt the policy immediately and give internal guidelines to all officers in seven days while ensuring that all officers sign an acknowledgement form.

Compliance is to be submitted within 14 days and should contain details of enforcement action and monitoring strategies employed.

Force Intelligence Bureau and X-Squad (Professional Standards Unit) have been entrusted with monitoring of social media websites for detecting offenders.

Officers who are currently maintaining accounts related to their police identity are being given 14 days’ time frame to either close these accounts or strip them off any trace of Nigeria Police Force.

According to the directive, disciplinary measures would include interdiction, loss of pay, demotion, termination of service and even prosecution, if the offense is serious enough.

The policy would immediately become effective throughout the country.

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