The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has warned against attacks on law enforcement officers by the ENDSARS protesters following reported murder of one policeman, injury to another and alleged stealing of arms and ammunition by the protesters.
The police boss in a statement issued on Friday by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, condemned the unprovoked and violent attack on policemen and damage to police operational vehicles and other assets by #EndSARS protesters in Ughelli, Delta State, on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
“The incident which resulted in the unfortunate death of one Police officer, Corporal Etaga Stanley attached to ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, Delta State who was attacked and brutally murdered by the protesters also left another, Sergeant Patrick Okuone with serious body injury sustained from gunshot by the protesters,” the statement said.
“The protesters also carted away one (1) service AK47 rifle with breach no 56-2609008 and 25 rounds of live ammunition that was with the deceased at the time of the incident.”
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The IGP, who described the incident as cruel and unwarranted, stressed that the Force will no longer tolerate any attack on its personnel or any member of the law enforcement community by any individual or group protesting under any guise.
He noted that protest by citizens remains a legitimate means for airing their concerns and views. However, he said, such protest must be carried out with all sense of responsibility and within the confines of the law.
The IGP, while condoling with the family and friends of the late Corporal Etaga Stanley, commended the officers of the Delta State Police Command for exercising restraint in the face of the immoral and unjustified provocation.
He also directed the Commissioner of Police, Delta State to carry out a discrete investigation into the unfortunate incident, root-out the perpetrators and bring the killer protesters to book.
On Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, the IGP has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement from 11:59PM on Friday, 9thOctober, 2020 to 6pm on Saturday, 10thOctober, 2020 in the State. The order is part of efforts by the Force to ensure effective coordination of public order and safety during the election.
He reiterated that the vehicular restriction order, among other things, is aimed at preventing political actors and trouble-makers from freely engaging in unpatriotic acts – circulation and use of illicit arms and hard drugs, movement of political thugs from contiguous States to Ondo State and disruption of the electoral processes, etc – which are inimical to the dictates of the electoral laws.
He called on residents of the Sunshine State to go out in their numbers on the day of the election and exercise their franchise, assuring that adequate security arrangement has been emplaced to secure the public space for the election.
The police boss also urged the citizens to bear any inconveniences arising from the restriction order, noting that the order is part of necessary sacrifices to nurture and sustain democracy in the country.
He however, warned that anybody who engages in snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying, vote selling, hate speeches, and any other act capable of compromising the integrity of the electoral process will be brought to book.
