BREAKING: Police highlight penalties for resisting or obstructing officers

The Nigerian Police Force has issued a strong warning to citizens, stressing the importance of cooperating with public officers when they are performing 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 outlined relevant sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Police Act 2020, detailing the penalties for resisting or obstructing public officers.

Under Section 197 of the Criminal Code Act, anyone who obstructs or resists a public officer in the course of their duties may face imprisonment for up to two years.

Section 42 of the Police Act 2020 stipulates that citizens are obligated to assist judges, magistrates, police officers, or other authorised persons in arresting or preventing the escape of suspects.

The police also referred to Section 98 of the Police Act 2020, which imposes a fine of N500,000 or up to six months in prison, or both, for assaulting, obstructing, or resisting a police officer during the performance of their duties. Furthermore, Section 99 of the same Act states that refusing or neglecting to aid a police officer in danger could result in a fine of N100,000, imprisonment for three months, or both.

Adejobi stated, “Section 197 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria: Resisting public officers.

“Any person who obstructs or resists a 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, police officer, or other person reasonably demanding his aid in arresting or preventing the escape of a suspect whom the judge, magistrate, police officer, or other person is authorised 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.”