Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police on Friday rejected reports by a global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, that police officers were involved among security operatives who shot at #EndSARS protesters.
The IGP, who described the report as “untrue, misleading and contrary to all available empirical evidence”, enjoined the organisation to subject its reports to “adequate scrutiny and proper verification of facts before making the reports public”.
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He said that despite that no fewer than 205 police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were damaged by a section of the protesters, the men of the force acted professionally.
In a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, the police chief said the personnel of the Force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner.
The police boss noted that the Force is committed to the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Police
The statement explained, “During the protests, officers of the Force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner and in most cases, physically protected and walked side-by-side with the protesters.
“Even when the protests turned violent in some parts of the country, the officers still maintained utmost restraint and did not use excessive force in managing the situations.
“Available Reports show that 22 police personnel were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests. Many of the injured personnel are in life-threatening conditions at the hospitals.
“205 police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters.
“Despite these unprovoked attacks, our police officers never resorted to use of unlawful force or shooting at the protesters as alleged in the report.
“It also begs imagination that Amnesty International failed to mention or pay tribute to Police officers who were gruesomely murdered during the protests while serving their fatherland.
“The Force decries the discriminatory tendencies exhibited by Amnesty International as seen in the report. One wonders if in the estimation of Amnesty International, police officers are not also human beings equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights to life and dignity of human person.”
