The Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, has clarified that police officers are legally empowered to search citizens’ bags and pockets without a warrant if there is reasonable suspicion.

Edafe made the statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday while announcing the arrest of a suspect found in possession of a firearm. “Do the police have the right to search you randomly without a search warrant? The answer is yes; search you and not your houses or your phones. But to search you, your bag, pockets, is allowed,” he wrote.

The arrest occurred around 5 a.m. on DBS Road near Don and Master, when operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) intercepted a man acting suspiciously. A firearm was recovered from his bag. “This chap was standing at a club around 5 a.m. looking suspicious, when operatives of RRS intercepted and searched him, and this gun was recovered. Listen to his reason for taking the gun to the club,” Edafe explained.

The suspect, 39-year-old Bassey Udoh from Akwa Ibom, was also linked to multiple thefts of generators across Delta State. Investigations revealed that Udoh had been scaling fences and burgling homes between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., reselling stolen generators for between ₦35,000 and ₦40,000.

Udoh admitted to burgling at least nine houses in the past two months. On the firearm, he claimed it was “not intended for robbery but to show off at a nightclub.” “I was holding it, I did not use it to rob. It was for flexing at a club. I put it in my waist,” the suspect said.

What You Should Know:

  • Delta State police are legally allowed to search individuals’ bags or pockets without a warrant under reasonable suspicion.

  • The suspect, Bassey Udoh, was caught with a firearm and linked to multiple burglaries.

  • Udoh claimed the gun was for showing off at a nightclub, not for robbery.

Why This Matters:
The clarification from Delta State Police highlights the legal boundaries of police powers and raises public awareness about citizens’ rights and responsibilities during security operations.