The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has disowned a statement credited to the Assistant Inspectr- General of Police (Zone 2), Joseph Mbu, that the police would kill 20 civilians for every officer attacked during the rescheduled elections.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said Abba gave the warning when he addressed senior officers in his office, stressing that the Nigeria Police has “a mandate to save and protect lives, and not to kill, contrary to recent statements in the media.”
He cautioned police officers against the use of firearms during the elections “except in extreme circumstances.” Mbu had reportedly said, “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-defence. Anybody who fires you, fire him back in self-defence.”.
The remarks have drawn widespread condemnation, with the All Progressives Congress, lambasting Mbu as a barbaric and lawless officer who must be immediately cautioned.
In his statement, the IGP said in spite of provocation, attributes of a police officer as contained in the Police Regulations, require him to exercise “tact, patience and tolerance and control of temper in trying situations.”
He also cautioned the personnel against excesses and reminded them of the dire consequences of abuse of human rights as contained in the recently released Human Rights Practice Manual of the force.
Abba restated his avowed commitment to observance of the rule of law and the respect of the fundamental rights of citizens by all police officers.
“The rule of law is the underpinning tenet of democracy which will guide police officers in the discharge of their roles in the forthcoming national elections,’’ he said.
He restated the preparedness of the force to provide the requisite security before, during and after the elections.
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