The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel
Ojukwu, in this interview speaks on several issues including the controversial
AIG Mbu.
How do you react to the statement credited to
AIG Joseph Mbu that his men would kill 20 people for every police officer
killed during the polls?
The job of the police is not to kill, but to save lives, but the police
have the right under the law to fight back if they are attacked.
Under what circumstances are a policeman
expected or required to use arms?
If a policeman is attacked, his life is in danger and he has no other
means of saving himself, he may use a firearm. If another person’s life is in
danger and the policeman cannot save him from being killed, the policeman may
use firearms. Also in dispersing rioters, a policeman may use firearms after
the word of proclamation has been done, to suppress riot and also in the arrest
of somebody who has escaped from lawful custody, if the offence for which they
have been charged or for which they are being detained is a felony, the law
covers the police to use firearms. However, for every use of firearms, the
policeman is duty-bound to explain the circumstance for its use.
Is the statement credited to Mbu, the
position of the Inspector-General of Police?
Our position is that the life of every policeman is as sacrosanct as the
life of every Nigerian; nobody in this country, nobody in this world has the
right or has the power to kill a policeman. When you kill a policeman, you have
killed law and order, you have killed decency, you are inviting anarchy, and it
amounts to an attack on the nation. We condemn the killing of any policeman in
any circumstance because he represents law and order. The police have the power
under the law to defend themselves against attack. If any policeman’s life is
in danger, he has the right under the law that is why the law has given him
arms, to defend himself. But whether you kill 20 or not is not part of what we
are saying; what we are saying is that every policeman has the right to defend
himself and to defend members of the public from violent attack.
Some civil society groups have called for
Mbu’s sacking, will this be done?
I have not heard the call, but anybody can say what they wish. However,
there is a rule, there is a law and there are procedures for sacking officers
if they go wrong. You don’t just wake up and say somebody should be sacked for
doing his work, if you have any complaint against him, go through the
appropriate channels. Then action will be taken.
Will he be reprimanded for this statement?
We have not seen anything worth sanctioning he has said that is in what
he said. The life of every policeman must be protected. Members of the public
should not go about killing policemen because killing a policeman is killing
law and order. We should respect lives in this country, respect lives of every
citizen including policemen.
What punishment awaits an officer who misuses
firearms?
He may be dismissed. He may be prosecuted if he is found to have used
his arms in an inappropriate manner.
What is the quality of training given to
policemen on firearms handling, given the various cases of firearms misuse by
some police personnel?
Every basic police training involves the use of firearms and how to use
them. And as officers go on refresher, development and promotion courses, they
are made to pass through the use of firearms and also practise the use of
various cadres of firearms. It’s a regular thing in Nigeria Police. We train
and re-train our officers in the use of firearms.
Some people are of the opinion that Mbu was
deployed to the South-West to do a dirty job during the polls, is this correct?
Mbu is a very senior officer, he was sent to head the zone. The posting
is done in furtherance of the best interest of the service and in the best interest
of the nation.
Based on his statement, does the IG still
have confidence in Mbu that he would represent him well in the zone?
Mbu is a very responsible senior officer and he is doing the work which
he has been assigned to do by Nigeria and the Nigeria Police.
What assurances are you giving Nigerians that
the police would conduct themselves in a professional manner during the polls?
As we said earlier on, we’ve prepared ourselves, our motivation is high,
our morale is high. Officers and men have been properly trained to conduct
themselves in the best professional manner. We have conducted elections before
and we came out fine. This time around, we are even more prepared than ever
before to give Nigerians a free atmosphere to do their elections. Policemen
don’t conduct elections, we provide security and safety for those involved in
the elections and those not involved in the election. We are going to be as
professional as can be.
What is the reaction of the police on
statements by some foreign personalities who said Nigeria should expect a
violent election? Should Nigerians expect a violent poll or a hitch-free,
transparent exercise?
It is normally what we expect that we get and I know that Nigerians
expect to have peace, Nigerians expect to have decorum in the conduct of the
elections. Nigerians expect that the elections will come and go and Nigeria
will remain. It is the expectations of Nigerians that would come, not the
expectation or the evil predictions of foreigners who want this country
divided. Nobody can divide this country, nobody can set us ablaze; the
elections will be peaceful. Nigerians will do these elections peacefully, go
about their lawful businesses and come out stronger at the end of the day.
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Society