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The Nigerian Police Force has issued a stern warning to citizens, emphasising the importance of cooperating with public officers in the discharge of their lawful duties.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, and shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the police highlighted relevant sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Police Act 2020 that outline penalties for resisting or obstructing public officers.
According to Section 197 of the Criminal Code Act, anyone who obstructs or resists a public officer engaged in their duties can be imprisoned for up to two years.
Additionally, Section 42 of the Police Act 2020 states that citizens are bound to assist judges, magistrates, police officers, or other authorized persons in arresting or preventing the escape of suspects.
The police also cited Section 98 of the Police Act 2020, which stipulates that assaulting, obstructing, or resisting a police officer in the discharge of their duty can result in a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for six months, or both. Furthermore, Section 99 of the same Act emphasises that refusing or neglecting to aid and assist a police officer in danger can lead to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for three months, or both.
Adejobi wrote, “Section 197 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria. Resisting public officers
“Any person who in any manner obstructs or resists any public officer while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of the duties of his office under any order, Act, law, or Statute, or obstructs or resists any person while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of any duty imposed on him by an order, Act, law, or statute, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.
“Section 42 of the Police Act 2020: A person is bound to assist a judge, magistrate or police officer or other person reasonably demanding his aid in arresting or preventing the escape of a suspect whom the the judge, magistrate, police officer or other person is authorized to arrest.
“Section 98 Police Act 2020: A person who assaults, obstructs or resists a police officer in the discharge of his duty, or aids or incites any other person to assault, obstruct or resist a police officer or other person aiding or assisting the police officer in the discharge of his duty commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months or both.
“Section 99, Police Act 2020: When a person is called upon to aid and assist a police officer who is, while in the discharge of his duty, assaulted or resisted or in danger of being assaulted or resisted, and the person refuses or neglects to aid and assist, the person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or both.”
