Internet Fraud: President Buhari Warns Police Against Indiscriminate Arrest Of Nigerians Carrying Laptops

President Muhammadu Buhari has cautioned the Nigeria police to avoid excessive harassment of young Nigerian men and women carrying laptops on the streets.

He disclosed that not every successful young Nigerian seen with laptop is into internet fraud, “just because they look successful and are carrying laptops.”

President Buhari, who is presently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, said this in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at a three-day retreat organized for senior officers of the police.

Buhari raised concerns on how civil society groups have been bewailing police brutality in the country, saying the trend must stop.

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“Nigerian people old and young want our Police force to be better and to do better; they want to be even prouder of your service than ever before,” Buhari said.

“This is why in some of our urban areas we want to see more compliance with the rule of law and in dealing with Nigerians.

“Recently many civil society groups have complained about the arrest of young men and women just because they look successful and are carrying laptops.

“Yes we must apprehend yahoo criminals but we cannot harass young men and women on the streets and in taxis most of whom are merely going about their legitimate businesses.

“There are also cases of extra judicial killings and injuries; misuse of weapons and excessive use of force by some members of the force.

“This sort of conduct by a few bad police officers must stop; and it is the duty of you senior and strategic leaders of the Police force to ensure that impunity of any kind is discouraged and punished where it is found,’’ he said.