In October, young persons across the country trooped to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and to also demand “good governance”.

The protesters were dispersed after two weeks and there was widespread violence.

Speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the Ebonyi police command on Tuesday, Adamu alleged that the #EndSARS protesters had ulterior motive.

He said the police would never allow such protest to hold in any part of the country again, advising his men to open fire when in danger.

“The EndSARS protests started as a result of fake news provided by the social media. There have been lots of reforms putt in place,” he said.

“The EndSARS protests started from Delta and spread to Lagos and other parts of the country. The motive behind the protests was not to End SARS but to attack government. Police provided them cover but their aim was not peaceful protest as it turned violent few days after. The reason was to attack the police that can protect the citizens and corporate offices in the country.

“Police has the capability to prevent loss of lives. We are meant to protect and not to destroy lives. It was through maximum restraint we saved the country from anarchy. We proved that during the protests, the police can be trusted.”

Adamu said President Muhammadu Buhari and governors declared support for the police during the crisis because they knew that the force was on top of the situation.

The IGP added that the officers who were killed during the protests did not die in vain, saying they had been promoted.

He urged police officers not to be demoralised by the attacks suffered during the crisis.

“The president supported the police and the Governor’s forum, saying that we love our police. What happened because of attack on police, has the tendency for the police to be demoralized as Banks, companies, private and public properties were destroyed,” he said.

“Other sectors were attacked; police was not only the worse hit. Nigeria police will never again accept such type of violent protest. If you want to protest we will provide security but it should be within the law.

“We shall suppress violent protests with maximum force and follow the rules of engagement. Police officers are special breed of Nigerians specially trained. When your life is danger, you use your fire arm. You are meant to maim and not to kill that person.

“The officers that died did not die in vain. We have promoted them and look into the issue of compensation. Welfare issues will be addressed including myself. We have health insurance scheme.

“In January, 2021, there will be renovation of barracks and new ones will be built. Let us not be demoralized. Follow the rules of engagement. Go out with the authority that backs you in line with the constitution.”

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An aide to the president, Bashir Ahmad, made this known in a tweet on Friday.

Ahmad assured Nigerians that the president would “take an action in the best interest of Nigerians.”

“Good people of Nigeria have every right to protest the #PoliceBrutality or anything they see is not going on well. The President was briefed yesterday by the IG of Police, I am very sure action will be taken and in the best interest of Nigerians. #EndSARSProtests,” he tweeted.

Thousands of Nigerians are protesting against police brutality in the country.

Apart from Lagos, protests are taking place across the country, including in the capital Abuja and Osun State.

The movement initially targeted the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, widely accused of unlawful arrests, torture, and murder, but has since broadened to include all police forces.

While the SARS unit was suspended on Sunday, groups such as Amnesty International said the government had not gone far enough, pointing to previous unsuccessful attempts to ban the force.

Several Nigerian celebrities have joined the protest.

The post IGP briefs Buhari on #EndSARS protests appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

President Buhari said that he was shocked and saddened by the latest violence which he described as “utterly evil, callous, reckless, thoughtless and reprehensible.”

According to the President: “the persistent killing of innocent and defenceless villagers by murderous thugs is unacceptable, and my administration is leaving no stone unturned to track down these mass murderers and bring them to justice.”

President Buhari gave a firm instruction to the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to quickly bring on board joint operations that will rid the country of all forms of criminal activity.

The President has also approved meetings between security and Defence officials from Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic for joint operations that will sweep the forests.

President Buhari assured the people of Sokoto and other areas affected by banditry that his administration’s commitment to security “remains undiminished” and that “efforts are being made to improve intelligence gathering and rapid emergency response strategies.”

“Let me reassure the people of Sokoto State and other parts of the country facing security challenges that no citizen will be abandoned to their fate. Security occupies the centre stage of my administration’s policies, and this commitment is being pursued with more vigour as we make efforts to provide more equipment to our security personnel to enable them perform the task effectively,’’ he added.

While consoling the families of the victims, President Buhari reassured the people that “criminals won’t be allowed to hold the citizens to ransom and that poverty is no excuse for any group to take up arms against innocent people and kill them in cold blood.”

The President said that he will ensure the murderers, who are already in police custody, are speedily prosecuted in order to send a clear message that nobody will get away with such heinous crimes.

President Buhari called on state and local governments to stop their holier-than-thou attitude and ensure the mass mobilization of all citizens to assist security agents, noting that security is everybody’s business.

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