Apparently piqued by recent media reports quoting the Assistant
Inspector General AIG of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Joseph Mbu as vowing to kill 20
civilians for each policeman killed in the forthcoming general elections, the
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba has warned the AIG against any
resort to extra-judicial killings.
According to the IGP, the job of the police is to protect the lives and
property of Nigerians, not to kill and maim the very people who pay them for
protection.
Abba’s warning was contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday
and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu.
Mbu, who was only recently posted to the zone, had at a meeting with
officers and men of the Ogun State Command at its Eleweran Headquarters,
Abeokuta on Thursday, declared that the elections in his zone will be “fire for
fire” if politicians decide to play pranks.
He said if any of his men were shot, at least 20 civilians would pay
dearly with for it.
“If one of my men is killed, I shall kill 20 of them but don’t shoot
first. If they shoot you, shoot back in self-defense. Anybody who fires you,
fire him back in self-defense”, Mbu had ordered.
Without any consideration for the constitutional mandate of other
sister-security agencies, Mbu told his men that they were the only authority
with the power to arrest, before, during and after elections, urging them not
to bother to greet any governor who comes to vote, but to arrest him should he
flout any law.
“You have the power to stop the governor,” he said. “We are in a
critical period. We are not para-military. We must be bold and brave. Keep an
eagle eye on everybody. We are authorised by the constitution to arrest before,
during and after election. Our role is to ensure free, fair and violence free
election.”
However, in the statement, the IGP restated his avowed commitment to the
observance of the rule of law and the respect of the fundamental rights of
citizens and residents alike by all police officers.
While admitting that there are circumstances under which an officer may
be provoked in the course of duty, the IGP stressed that the attributes of a
police officer as contained in the Police Regulations, require of every officer
to exercise “tact, patience and tolerance and the control of his temper in
trying situations.”
The statement quoted the IGP as giving the charge at a meeting with a
cross section of senior officers and stakeholders in his office.
He advised all officers of the necessity to apply caution in the use of
firearms, warning that except in extreme circumstances, arms shall not be used
during the forthcoming elections.
He observed that the rule of law is the underpinning tenet of democracy,
which will guide police officers in the discharge of their roles in the
elections.
The IGP further reassured the public that the Nigeria Police has a
mandate to save and protect lives, and not to kill, contrary to recent
statements attributed to AIG Mbu.
He cautioned officers to avoid excesses, pointing out the dire
consequences attendant on abuse of human rights, all of which are contained in
the recently released NPF Human Rights Practice Manual.
He equally restated the preparedness of the Police to provide fool-proof
security before, during and after the elections.
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