Delta State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, has justified officers’ actions in conducting a thorough search of passengers’ belongings at a checkpoint during a road trip from Benin to Owerri.  

A viral video posted on Wednesday showed a lady recounting her experience, capturing officers inspecting boxes, luggage, and sealed waybill packages belonging to passengers, including mothers and children.  

She claimed the travellers were delayed for an hour due to the extensive search. Addressing concerns in a post via X on Thursday, Edafe asserted that the police had the right to inspect all items, including waybills, during stop-and-search operations. He stressed that such measures were crucial for security and questioned whether the criticism would persist had dangerous weapons 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 clarified that while male officers are not allowed to physically search a woman’s body, they have the authority to inspect her belongings.

“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.