The Nigeria Police Force has warned pranksters to be ready to face the consequences of some of their pranks.
According to the police, they will be made to face the wrath of the law for any harm their actions cause.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who issued the warning on Thursday night said that the activities of the pranksters create more problems for the police on security management than what they (pranksters) gain from such pranks.
Adejobi said the personnel of the force operating across the country should not be blamed for killing an innocent person if by any chance they shoot any prankster seen with a gun – be it a dummy or a real one – as the person might be taken for an armed robber or criminal before confirming the kind of gun with them.
The Force spokesperson warned pranksters and skit makers to either regulate their pranks or stop such controversial ones completely to avoid victimization.
He said, “This is getting out of hand and we need to talk to ourselves on this pranks (sic). Most of you that do pranks must be very careful. Moderate what you do.
“There are things you do that will constitute offence and you will not be able to hold it because the law is not respecter of anybody. The law will not pity you. The law will not consider you for anything.
“Whatever it is, so far you are old enough to have criminal responsibility, you are going to face the music. You are to face the wrath of the law.
“So, beware the way you do pranks but not the way the thing is going now. No regulation, no decorum. You do it at will, the way you want, and it is creating more problem to us than what you think you are deriving from it.
“Can we please regulate or stop it in totality. Because I’m saying this so that we can call your attention to it perhaps you don’t even know that this is becoming dangerous these days. Well, we are telling you now, it is becoming dangerous.
“If you are doing that pranks and you face the music, you run into the consequences of it is better than for you to put an innocent person into problem by the time you over do all these.
“Many innocent Nigerians that you always carry along in your pranks, you don’t know anything, before you can tell them it is a prank, you are on camera, those who have hypertension at times will lose their lives.
“On majorly, some of you that go to the extent of carrying guns, either dummy, real or fake guns or whatever you call it, it is dangerous. You are exposing your lives to dangers. If I’m a policeman in the street and I see you with a gun, I wouldn’t know it is a prank, I can even fire at any time.
“You won’t go on blaming our men on operations that they have gunned down an innocent person. At that time, are you actually an innocent person or you are to be treated as an armed robber or criminal who is fully armed. Regulate this and if you cannot regulate it, stop doing pranks.” (SaharaReporters)
