The Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu has faulted a report by Amnesty International on the 21st of October that police personnel shot at peaceful protesters during the End SARS protests that rocked the country recently.
In a release by the force public relations officer, Frank Mba, the IGP maintained that officers of the Nigeria Police Force acted professionally, exercised commendable restraints and some paid the supreme price for peace during the recent protests and ensuing violence in some parts of the country.
He described the Amnesty International report as untrue, misleading and contrary to all available empirical evidences.
The IGP, conceding that officers of the force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner, said in most cases, the police physically protected and walked side-by-side the protesters, reiterating that 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.
Adamu, according to available reports claimed 22 police personnels were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests; with some currently in life threatening conditions at the hospitals
He added that 205 Police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters.
The IGP, while noting that the Force is committed to the Federal Government’s ongoing holistic reforms of the Nigerian police force targeted at improving service delivery, positive police-citizen relationship and respect for human rights, enjoins Amnesty International to ensure they subject their reports to adequate scrutiny and proper verification of facts before making the reports public.
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