The Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim on Tuesday justified the killings of some members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) on Monday during the clash with police in Kano city, stating that his men acted out of responsibility to the country to enforce rights.
Fielding questions from journalist at the State House, Abuja, shortly after the launch of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem launch, held at the Council Chambers of the presidential Villa and presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the IGP said Nigerians should appreciate everyone has a right to be protected by the law.
Asked if there couldn’t have been a better way of quelling the riot without killing them, the IG replied, “I agree with what you said, but when you have Nigerians armed to the teeth, killing police officers, I don’t think it happens anywhere. I think as Nigerians, we have to appreciate, and to be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.
“As of early yesterday (Monday), we got information that they were trying to block Kano to Zaria road. They later assembled in large numbers and our officers were deployed to the place to ensure freedom of movement of ordinary Nigerians. They attacked our officers, killed one of our officers one has sustained an arrow wound on his head and
obviously in such a situation, police have the responsibility to ensure free movement of people on the road. And that was what our officers did.
“Obviously from time to time, we have been experiencing upheavals from this set of people. As police officers, we have responsibility to ensure there is law and order and when you have people taking over the whole country, dominating streets and buildings, we have to come in to maintain sanity in those areas” he said.
The clash between the police and the Shiites reportedly started around Tamburawa, on the outskirts of Kano city, when the police tried to stop their protest, leaving over a dozen people including a police officer dead.
The IMN on Sunday accused Nigerian soldiers of conspiring to plants weapons on its members as trying to stop them from moving to Kano from Yobe.
On the fears that if not checked it might result in another Boko Haram situation, Idris said, “Obviously, it is. Whether now or whenever, as police officers we have a responsibility to ensure there is law and order in any part of this country and to ensure that no organisation or individual should constitute themselves into a government, block passages and buildings.”
On the argument that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of movement in the country, the police boss insisted the Shiite movement were blocking the road and not exercising freedom of movement. He said, “What happens is that there is nothing like freedom there. When you worship, you go to mosques or churches. Blocking highways and
passages doesn’t constitute part of worship.
“My message to Nigerians is that all of us should be our brother’s keepers. We should appreciate the feeling of others that where your right ends, another person’s right begins. Every Nigerian has a right that must be protected. We should ensure we protect the rights of ever individuals: right of freedom, right of association and right of movement”.
