The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has revealed that 205 police stations and formations were destroyed by youths protesting against police brutality.
He also disclosed that at least 22 police officers were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters.
These were contained in a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, in reaction to reports by a global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, that police officers were involved among security operatives who shot at #EndSARS protesters.
The Police Chief who described the report as “untrue, misleading and contrary to all available empirical evidence”, urged the organization to always subject its reports to “adequate scrutiny and proper verification of facts before making them public”.
According to him, men of the force acted professionally in spite of the havoc wreaked by a section of protesters on 205 police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure.
He also noted that “officers of the Force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner” despite the extra-judicially killings of 22 police personnel by some rampaging protesters
The IGP further reiterated the commitment of the force to the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Police.
A copy of the full statement obtained by the Heritage Times Reads:
“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.”
