IGP VISITS EBONYI, INSISTS POLICE WILL RESIST ANOTHER VIOLENT PROTEST
Reporter : AMECHI ODO
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, says the Nigeria Police will resist any attempt to have another wave of violent protest in the country.
He stated this while addressing officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force at Police Headquarters Abakaliki.
The IGP was at Police Headquarters Abakaliki to interact with officers and men of the Command and boost their morale following the ENDSARS violent protest witnessed across the country few months ago.
Mr. Adamu noted that the Nigeria Police saved the country from anarchy by applying restraint in the face of violent attacks and urged them not to be demoralized by the maiming and killing of some of their colleagues during the incident.
He said though peaceful protest was a constitutional right of Nigerians, the police would henceforth apply rule of engagement, including the use of force in the event that such protest turned violent.
“If you are ready to go on peaceful protest, the police will provide you with all the security you need to go about protesting, its your constitutional right but the moment it’s going to be violent, you are going to be met with maximum force to force you to drop the protest,” the IGP insisted.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Philip Maku, said five police officers were killed while fourteen others were maimed during the violent protest.
He said eleven police structures were burnt or vandalized, noting that the incident had affected the command’s operational structure, especially as festive period sets in.
“I humbly solicit for the withdrawal of thirty two mopol unit in Bayelsa currently on special duty to the command to beef up security for various critical national assets, especially as festive period approaches,” the Police Commissioner appealed.
The Inspector General was accompanied by the Deputy Inspector General in charge of South East Zone, Mr. Celestine Okoye and the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone Nine Umuahia.