The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has stopped police officers from making or making money from content on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube while using their police identity. He warned that those who break this rule might lose their job, get demoted, have their pay forfeited, or even face prosecution.
An internal police memo dated Monday, which SaharaReporters shared, tells all police units and commands across the country about this new rule.
The memo, signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, said officers getting involved in social media content creation is a worrying trend that could damage the image of the police force and reduce how well they operate.
The new rule stops officers from making, sharing, or posting videos, photos, skits, live streams, or anything similar while in police uniforms or on police property unless they have written permission from the IGP or someone he has authorized.
It also stops officers from having personal or anonymous social media accounts for entertainment, promoting brands, or any business activities that relate to their role as police officers. They cannot publicly comment on police investigations, discipline issues, deployments, or other official matters.
The IGP also said officers must not accept sponsorships, endorsements, or any money-making deals that use their identity as police officers.
"The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined institution whose effectiveness depends on public trust, institutional integrity, and the professional conduct of every officer," the memo said.
Mr Disu warned that officers who break these rules could be immediately suspended, lose their pay during investigations, be demoted, fired, or prosecuted under relevant criminal or cybercrime laws when necessary.
The memo also set up a supervisory framework. This means that police commissioners, area commanders, divisional police officers, and other senior officers could face consequences if they do not keep an eye on and discipline officers who break the rules.
State police commissioners were told to share this order with all personnel within seven days and to send compliance reports through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations within 14 days.
This directive comes less than a month after Mr Disu warned content creators and the public against recording and sharing police-related videos without care. He spoke during a meeting with crime reporters in Abuja on May 31, 2026. He said recording and posting police work without the right context could harm security efforts and lower officer morale.
"We urge members of the public and social media users to refrain from recycling old or manipulated videos capable of creating panic or undermining national security efforts," he mentioned back then.
This new order also follows a similar policy from former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu on June 17, 2020. Under that policy, police personnel were stopped from using their uniforms in personal social media accounts and from discussing political or religious topics that could harm the force’s reputation.
The 2020 policy also barred most officers from showing their police identity on social media except for designated spokespersons and senior officers who are allowed to speak for the force.
The latest order shows that the police leadership wants to have tighter control over officers' online activities as social media becomes more influential in public discussions and police accountability.
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