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Police confirm they can search individuals’ pockets and bags without a court warrant
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Arrest of a suspected thief in Delta sparks clarification on search rights
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Suspect allegedly involved in generator theft, caught with firearm during patrol
The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, has clarified that officers are legally empowered to search people’s bags and pockets without requiring a warrant.
Edafe made this known in a post on X while sharing the arrest of a man allegedly found with a firearm during a stop-and-search operation. He explained that the law does not permit warrantless entry into homes or mobile phones but allows police to search individuals in public spaces.
In a video posted online, Edafe detailed how operatives of the Rapid Response Squad on patrol around DBS Road intercepted a man carrying a bag in a suspicious manner. A search led to the recovery of a gun, magazine, and ammunition.
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The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Bassey Udoh from Akwa Ibom State, was later linked to multiple generator thefts across Delta.
Investigators said he scaled fences or used gates of homes to cart away stolen generators, often operating between 4am and 5am.
Udoh confessed to stealing from about nine homes within two months. He admitted to selling the stolen generators for between ₦35,000 and ₦40,000. Regarding the recovered firearm, he insisted it was not meant for robbery but to “show off” at a nightclub.
