The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has announced that refusal to assist officers under attack could result in a fine of N100,000 and a prison term of up to three months.

In a tweet on Sunday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, stated that anyone who fails to help a police officer in distress is committing an offence.

“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,” Adejobi wrote on X.

“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.”

“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.”

Adejobi’s statement follows the circulation of a viral video showing a confrontation between a woman and a police officer.