The Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has sparked a wave of outrage on social media following his assertion that Nigerian law gives police officers the authority to break into homes without a warrant in certain situations.

The controversy began after a video was shared by X (formerly Twitter) user Somto Okonkwo, showing masked police officers scaling a fence, firing shots, and eventually forcing their way into a home when residents refused to open the gate. The officers were seen climbing the fence to enter the building.

Adejobi’s comments in response to the video led to widespread criticism on the platform. One user, Joseph Tobore, pointed out that Adejobi’s justification appeared to contradict Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy.

Tobore wrote, “Any law that does not align with the Constitution is not a valid law. Prince (Adejobi), please educate Nigerians on Section 37 and explain how this aligns with the law.”

Another user, ‘Great Oracle Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary,’ raised concerns about the police’s approach, asking, “How is this consistent with proper police operations? Officers, masked and without a warrant, fired live rounds and trespassed on private property. Is this standard procedure? An armed citizen could have shot one of these officers.”

‘Dipo’ echoed similar concerns, saying, “Uniform is no longer a proof of authority because criminals and terrorists wear them too. Only professional conduct validates real operatives.”

Despite the backlash, Adejobi defended the actions of the officers, claiming that the law grants police the right to break into any property where they believe an offence is being committed, provided proper procedures are followed.

“The police have the power to break into any house or place if they are reasonably convinced that a crime is taking place,” Adejobi explained. “There are many laws governing police operations, and they must be followed.”

He continued, “Not all situations require a warrant for a search or arrest. The law allows police to break in and out when necessary to prevent crime or apprehend criminals.”

However, many critics remained unconvinced by his defense. X user Ben Samuel rebuked Adejobi’s statement, arguing, “Your statement lacks clarity. Police cannot break into homes without a warrant. Such actions are akin to armed robbery, and officers must face serious penalties for any misconduct. Legal duties cannot be executed through unlawful means.”

In his response, Adejobi maintained that while procedures could be refined, the police’s powers remain intact.

“No matter how the laws are amended, police powers remain unchanged,” he said. “Only procedures might change, but the authority to act in emergencies remains.”

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic petrol tanker explosion on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway that claimed over 11 lives on Saturday.

Mbah visited the scene of the incident at Ugwu-Onyeama for an on-the-spot assessment, where he confirmed that the state government had already mobilized resources to ensure the victims receive proper medical care.

The governor revealed that the state was taking proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including the enforcement of road safety regulations and repairs to the section of the federal road that was in poor condition.

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the accident as “unfortunate” and pledged that immediate actions would be taken to address the situation.

Governor Mbah directed the Enugu Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Franklin Agbakoba, and the state Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers transporting flammable substances are equipped with anti-spill locks to prevent fuel leaks in the event of an accident.

“This tanker accident, which initial investigations suggest was caused by brake failure, led to the spill of premium motor spirit that ignited and caused the explosion. It’s a tragic incident, and we must get to the bottom of the cause,” Mbah said.

He assured the public that an investigation was underway, involving the police and other law enforcement agencies, to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

In the meantime, Mbah confirmed that the injured victims had been transferred to hospitals for urgent treatment, with state health officials coordinating their care.

The governor expressed that, while waiting for the federal government to address the road repairs, the state government would take immediate steps to fix the affected section of the road to avoid future accidents.

Briefing Mbah on the incident, the FRSC sector commander confirmed that the explosion was caused by the tanker’s brake failure.

He reported that 11 people lost their lives at the scene, with several others injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.

The sector commander thanked the governor for his swift response, leadership, and commitment to covering the medical expenses for the victims.

A Magistrate Court in Ilesa, Osun State, has ordered Rhoda Adu to pay ₦150,000 to her boyfriend, Olapitan Sola, for failing to meet her obligations, which caused him emotional distress.

The case arose after Sola transferred ₦3,000 to Rhoda for transportation, as agreed, but she switched off her phone and failed to show up as planned.

Sola, frustrated by her actions, reported the incident to the Ayeso Police Station, leading to Rhoda’s arrest and subsequent court appearance.

During the trial, Sola presented evidence, including proof of the ₦3,000 mobile money transfer and WhatsApp messages between them.

Magistrate Akogun Oludare ruled that Rhoda must refund the ₦3,000 transport fare, pay an additional ₦100,000 for breach of agreement, and ₦50,000 for the emotional distress caused.

The court emphasized that the decision was aimed at discouraging similar behavior in the future.