Following growing concerns over leaked police information, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, is cracking down on WhatsApp and other social media channels used by officers, insisting that only authorized personnel can access official communication groups.
A police wireless message from the Force Headquarters in Abuja, obtained on Sunday, instructed all state commands and departments to immediately review and sanitize digital communication platforms, ensuring compliance with operational security standards.
The directive highlights that the widespread use of WhatsApp and similar platforms for unofficial communication has resulted in repeated breaches of the Nigeria Police Force’s information security protocols. Police leadership expressed serious concern over unauthorized leaks, linking them to poor oversight and uncontrolled access to these platforms.
As part of the new measures, commands nationwide are required to:
Remove retired, transferred, deceased, or dismissed personnel from WhatsApp groups and other official channels.
Deactivate platforms once their operational purpose is fulfilled.
Vet all members regularly and strictly monitor shared content.
Limit access strictly to authorized personnel only.
Additionally, the Force Public Relations Department has been directed to launch a nationwide awareness program on the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy and cyber hygiene best practices.
The IGP warned that compliance is mandatory, and officers found violating these directives or the force’s social media policy will face disciplinary sanctions.
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