STOP-AND-SEARCH: POLICE HAVE RIGHT TO INSPECT WOMEN’S BELONGINGS, SAYS DELTA PPRO
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SP Bright Edafe, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, has defended the actions of policemen who searched passengers’ things thoroughly at a police checkpoint when they were traveling from Benin to Owerri.
In a widely shared video uploaded on Wednesday, a woman described the incident, which showed officers checking passengers’ boxes, bags, and sealed waybill shipments, including those of mothers and children.
According to her, the lengthy search caused an hour-long delay for the passengers.
In a post on X on Thursday, Edafe addressed complaints regarding the search and said that the police have the authority to examine everything, including waybills, when conducting stop-and-search operations.
He emphasized that these kinds of searches were required for security purposes and asked if the same level of scrutiny would have been given if hazardous weapons had been found.
“What if they had recovered Beretta pistols and ammunition while carrying out this thorough search? Would you be asking this question?” Edafe said.
He said that although male cops are not permitted to conduct a physical search of a woman’s body, they are permitted to examine her possessions.
“The police were right and can search all items, including waybills, during the course of stop-and-search duty. And yes, they can search the belongings of a woman. They are only not allowed to search a woman physically if they are male officers, but not their properties. Are we clear?” he added.
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