The assistant inspector-general of police in charge of Zone 2 comprising Ogun and Lagos states, and former commissioner of police in Rivers State, Joseph Mbu, has denied ordering the killing of 20 civilians for every one policeman killed in his command.
Mbu in a statement signed by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olugbemiga Adeoye, explained that he only “advised his policemen not to be cowardly but to be guided by Force Order 237 on the use of their firearms.”
According to him, the firearms are not only meant to defend themselves but also others “including fellow police officers when their lives are in danger.”
The AIG, who said he was quoted out of context, believes that reports on the issue have been fraught with political undertone.
He said such reports were geared towards portraying him in a bad light and as an officer who does not uphold the rule of law.
The statement said, “Although policemen are not to be seen with firearms within a specific radius of the polling area, quick response squads will be created to respond to distress calls.
“There is no society in the world where policemen will be killed by hoodlums and the perpetrators will be allowed to escape justice.”
He said he was also quoted out of context on the alleged order to arrest governors at polling units.
“What he (Mbu) said was that no highly placed individuals in the society who have police escorts and other forms of personal guards will be allowed within the voting area accompanied by such retinue of escorts,” the statement said.
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