Obstructing officers’ entry or exit from your home is criminal – Police

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, has clarified that it is illegal to prevent police officers from entering or exiting a residence.

Edafe made the statement on X in response to a viral video showing a group of young men stopping individuals dressed as police officers from accessing their property. In the video, the men, who claimed to be content creators and not internet fraudsters, expressed discomfort with the armed, masked individuals.

One of the masked men fired a warning shot, while another scaled the fence to enter the property. Edafe acknowledged that the use of masks by police officers is prohibited but stressed that obstructing officers’ movement is also a criminal offense.

He wrote, “Wearing a mask as a policeman is a red flag and not allowed in policing. However, we should stop thinking it’s right to lock the police either inside or outside a building. That’s another offense.”

Edafe also questioned the group’s claim of being content creators, noting that the police had not accused them of being internet fraudsters.

“The incident can’t be defended just because the policemen were masked. We are waiting for information to determine where it occurred so a proper investigation can be conducted. But why did they insist they’re not ‘yahoo boys’ (internet fraudsters) but content creators when the police never made such an accusation?” he added.