Protest: Our Personnel Avoided Using Lethal Weapons – Police Insists

…Cautions Amnesty International on releasing unconfirmed figures, reports

The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday, August 3, 2024, said that its personnel deployed to manage the nationwide protests acted professionally by refraining from using lethal weapons.

This was as the police said that in an effort to combat the trend of crimes and criminality, its personnel arrested a total of 681 individuals who committed various criminal offenses such as armed robbery, arson, mischief, and destructions of both public and private property.

The police high command also said that in instances where protesters became riotous, its personnel employed teargas to disperse them, adding that its officers on lawful duty were attacked and injured even as it effected arrests using only teargas, demonstrating utmost restraint.

The Force also said that dangerous weapons, including two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition, were recovered from the protesters in addition to stolen items such as furniture, electronics, phones, other various shop items, and vital infrastructures worth billions of naira.

These were contained in a statement by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, in which he said that contrary to circulating news, organizers of the protest or protesters were not arrested, adding that those in police custody are under investigation for clear connections to criminal activities.

The statement further said that nine police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters, adding that one of them who initially was reported dead, miraculously survived but remains in critical condition.

ACP Adejobi, who stated these while debunking claims by Amnesty International that 13 individuals lost their lives due to the protests against hunger in Nigeria, also said that the ongoing protest has obviously turned violent and therefore advised law abiding citizens taking part in the protest across the country to immediately withdraw from it.

Amnesty International had alleged that security personnel deliberately employed tactics designed to kill while managing gatherings and used firearms as a tactical tool for protest management.

But, the police spokesman said that an accurate account of incidents indicated that the first two days of the nationwide protests in Borno State, four individuals lost their lives with 34 severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

According to Adejobi; “Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two (2) civilians. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.

“Although the vehicle was vandalized after the incident, it has been recovered and is currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to trace the driver and bring him to justice.

“There was another incident reported in Yauri, in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop. In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.

“The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State is currently investigating the incident. This brings the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven (7).

It is important to state that there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests apart from those mentioned above.

“However, incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest.

“Arrests were made with respect to these criminal incidences and a number of recoveries made from the suspects while the protest was going on.

“The ongoing protest has obviously turned violent. We therefore advise law abiding citizens taking part in the protest across the country to immediately withdraw from it. “This advice becomes necessary in view of the violence that has characterized the protest in the last 2 days. It is reasonably expected that peaceful protesters would have withdrawn from the protest that has turned violent,” the police said.

Adejobi said that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to providing accurate information and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens during these challenging times.

He further said; “It is essential to recognize that the strategic deployment by the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, and the decisive clampdown on criminal elements exploiting the protests for unlawful activities, has been highly effective in quelling tension and curbing the violence and anarchy witnessed on the first day of the protests.

“During this challenging period, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to performing its lawful duties with professionalism, maintaining law and order, and preventing anarchy throughout the country”.

The police therefore urged all citizens and residents to disregard unfounded and psychologically manipulative reports circulating about incidents during the protests.