Police May Shoot Violent Protesters As IGP Approves Use Of ‘Legitimate Force’

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has approved the use of “legitimate force” by the police to prevent threats to lives and properties and to suppress protests.

This is against the backdrop of the loss suffered by the Nigerian Police Force in the wake of the EndSARS violence where at least 31 civilian fatalities were recorded while a total of 22 policemen were gruesomely murdered.

 Also, 205 police stations, public and private properties were burnt and vandalized.

But in order to forestall any repeat of such mayhem, police authorities have passed an order to all commands across the country not to allow any such thing happen to them again.

A serving AIG who spoke to THE WHISTLER on Friday on condition of anonimyty, said “ we have passed the authorization to all police commands not to allow the recent carnage happen again.

 “People were scared to repel the EndSARS attacks because of possible consequencies. But we have found a provision in the constitution which allows us to use force during such occasions. So, nobody will go to a police station and start killing people again.”

He cited the provision as Chapter 4 section 33(1) and (2) which read: “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.

(2) A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably necessary –

(a) for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property:

(b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or

(c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.

But a statement issued on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the IGP has ordered police officers in the country to use “legitimate force” in order to protect the lives and properties of citizens in the country.

According to a statement, the IGP said he will not allow a recurrence of  the “attacks, killings, arson, wanton destruction, and looting of public and private assets witnessed during the recent violent protests in some parts of the country.”

The statement titled, ‘Resist All Violent And Riotous Elements Forthwith: IGP Orders AIG, CPS’, partly read, “The IGP restates that Command Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police should resist all riotous elements forthwith and checkmate any form of violent/riotous protests in line with Section 33 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which among other things provides for the use of such force as is reasonably necessary;

“For the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property; In order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or For the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.”

The IGP however assured all law-abiding citizens across the country of police commitment to their safety.