Nigeria Police Cracks Down on Unauthorized Use of Uniforms, Warns Content Creator
The Nigeria Police Command has condemned the unauthorized use of its official uniforms by content creators.
The warning was made in a release on the official page of the Nigerian Police Command on X.
This warning came following the circulation of a recent video by Mr. Martins Otse, popularly known online as “Very Dark Man (VDM).”
Techparley correspondent gathered that the video, shared on VDM’s social media, has drawn numerous criticism from law enforcement officials, leading to the launch of an investigation to uncover the origins of the Police gear used in the production.
In a statement, the Police Force emphasized: “We unequivocally disassociate ourselves from this unauthorized portrayal and have launched a full investigation to determine the source of the Police gear used, as well as the authority under which he acted.”
The investigation seeks to identify how VDM acquired the uniform and to hold accountable any parties involved in its distribution.
Authorities added that any unauthorized use of Police uniforms, insignia, or accoutrements is a criminal offense under Nigerian law.
“It is important to remind the public that the unauthorized use of Police uniforms, insignia, or accoutrements constitutes a criminal offense. This is as stipulated in Section 251 of the Criminal Code Law and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law, and is subject to strict penalties,” the statement read.
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Despite its support for Nigerian creativity in the online space, the Nigeria Police Force maintains a firm stance on the misuse of its symbols.
“While the Nigeria Police Force recognizes and supports the creativity of young Nigerians in the content creation space, we strongly caution against the misuse of Police uniforms or symbols,” the Force added, underscoring that such actions threaten the integrity and values of the Police.
The Police warned that further infractions would not be tolerated, signaling a clampdown on content creators who engage in similar unauthorized representations.
You may like to know that the unauthorized use of police uniforms and insignia by individuals and content creators has been a concern in the United States as well.
The U.S. has strict federal laws against the public usage of government insignia or uniforms to prevent the potential misrepresentation of authority, including rules under which individuals may not use logos or seals associated with government agencies without permission.
This is done to protect the public from any misleading or unauthorized representation of government entities.
Specifically, the unauthorized use of certain U.S. federal agency logos and uniforms can result in legal repercussions, with specific agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and NASA enforcing restrictions to prevent misuse of their insignia.
While some agencies allow limited educational use, most strictly control their logos to prevent false impressions of endorsement or authority.
Moreover, California’s SB 480 law illustrates state-level restrictions, where peace officers are prohibited from wearing uniforms that resemble military attire.
This law aims to prevent confusion between law enforcement and military personnel in public settings.
Such restrictions also emphasize the need for clarity and respect for official symbols and uniforms, particularly to prevent any misuse that could mislead the public.
These regulations show a clear trend in both the U.S. and Nigeria toward stricter oversight on official attire use, ensuring that unauthorized portrayals don’t compromise the integrity of law enforcement and government institutions.
