The right to privacy is a fundamental human right enshrined in section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (As Amended).
Also, on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Although the right to privacy does not appear in the document, many interpret this through Article 12, which states: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”
A close observer in Nigeria and Imo especially, wonders if these documents are of any effect owing largely due to incidents of privacy abuse and denial especially by the very people who should protect such rights – law enforcement officers.
It has become common knowledge that security checkpoints are scattered across the length and breadth of all major roads of the Southeast, with passengers having to stop a d trek past such checkpoints.
More worrisome though, is the act of searching mobile phones and other internet compatible devices belonging to road users, an act which the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has severally warned against.
Law enforcement officials sometimes, compel unsuspecting individuals to open their bank mobile applications and expose their account balances, with a view to ripping them off hard earned resources through brazen extortion.
Nigerian roads have therefore become a nightmare for Nigerians, with the increasing fear of privacy abuse, extortion and the likes.
C-Advocate therefore calls for adequate sensitisation of security officers to stem the tide of privacy rights abuses.
Feel free to report rights abuses to C-Advocate, using the toll free line below.
