Netizens fumed as to a trending video of an NDLEA officer demanding access to passengers’ phones.
The viral clip, which was first shared in July 2025 and has recently resurfaced, captures officers demanding access to passengers’ emails, galleries, and messages during a routine stop.
Critics have labeled this action a clear violation of privacy under Section 37 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which serves to protect personal communications. Conversely, defenders of the agency point to Section 41 of the NDLEA Act, which grants powers for suspicion-based searches specifically tied to drug offenses.
Although the agency previously summoned the officers involved following reports of suspicious device activity, there have been no subsequent updates, and the renewed attention highlights the ongoing tensions regarding enforcement tactics at checkpoints.
Click the link to watch the video.
Here are public reactions on X
King_swaggz® (@kevin_sleek): What’s the business of NDLEA with phone. Nigerians and abuse of power.
VHIKTRI (@vhiktri): What concerns NDLEA with people’s phones again 😂 you can hear that bitter woman at the background, wicked set of creatures.
TodayInHistory🇬🇧🇬🇧 (@ch…): Most of these security operatives need an orientation on the “roles” associated with their jobs.
voice of gods (@OladejiEmm1…): Why you go give NDLA your phone, some Nigerian youth mumu sha.
Hon. Jesugbemi (@Hon_Jes…): Is it proper for an NDLEA officer to search travelers phones?
FỌLÚ🚀 (@FolushoxFolarin): Seems many people still dont know? When I said this thing on a Space few years ago, a lot of yall made silly noises. Read the laws setting up NDLEA. – They can enter your house at ANY TIME without a warrant if they believe drug activity is taking place. – They can search your phone also. If you dont like it, tell your lawmakers to change the law.
-𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒈- (@macxxxxx0): ndlea dey search phone once you give nigerian man gun en go leave en job dey harrass youth and same nigerians go justify am with “if there’s a reasonable cause” yarns meanwhile en wan extort right on spot.
Eze Dollar (@Ezedollar_xx): Arbitrary or warrantless content searches are not clearly authorised and have drawn criticism. It should be tied to specific suspicion, not routine fishing.
Eze Dollar (@Ezedollar_xx): They can also arrest suspects and seize items on the same basis. For phones: They may seize a phone if reasonably linked to the offence, but scrolling through messages, photos or apps is a privacy issue under Section 37 of the Constitution.
Dapo 🦚 (@OfficialIbidapo): Nigerian agencies are just full of stupid bastards. Cos wtf is this ? NDLEA Checking phones.
Ştunnâ👤 (@Data_Stunna): Which day this nonsense start? 😂 and they even gave him the phone.
Jenisys Play 🐺🩸 (@Jenisys…): NDLEA officer just told a civilian I’m not as useless as the police without saying it directly. The layers to this statement are too much for a Tuesday.
VHIKTRI (@vhiktri): “No be the phone he dey take call dealers?” 😭 Nigeria my country NDLEA fa😂💔.
Shepherd (@_lugbenga): @grok what rule permits him to check phones and search homes without warrant.
BINTILAYE🙈🇧🇪 (@SIR_PIU…): Nigeria has a law but most citizens are scared to stand on their right, police will search citizens phones, NDLEA, road safety, vigilante civil defence go do their own, meanwhile itsnt their right to search people privacy without warrant but upon all this invading innocent citizens privacy, there has never been a time officers are being punish for this, this is becoming more than m@dness. How many of them can search Seyi Tinubu phone or Governors children phone make them no sack them? M@d people 3verywhere.
Frankie (@f___castle): E no go better for them , nobody fit enter my phone sha 🤡🤡.
Sparrow🕊 (@snnfeed): Under Nigerian law, does the NDLEA have the authority to search a citizen’s private phone and enter their house without a court-issued warrant? No, the NDLEA does not have unlimited or blanket rights to do this.