The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has said that 22 policemen were killed and 205 police stations and formations damaged in the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests across the country.
He stated this in a Friday statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba.
The IGP was reacting to a report by Amnesty International which accused policemen of killing peaceful protesters.
Adamu described the report released on October 21 “as untrue, misleading and contrary to all available empirical evidences”.
Adamu affirmed that “officers of the Nigeria Police Force acted professionally, exercised commendable restraints and some paid the supreme price for peace during the recent protests and ensuing violence in some parts of the country”.
He said policemen face unprovoked attacks but did not use unlawful force against protesters.
The IGP noted that during the protests, officers of the Force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner and in most cases, physically protected and walked side-by-side with the protesters.
He reiterated that even when the protests turned violent in some parts of the country, the officers still maintained utmost restraint and did not use excessive force in managing the situations.
“Available Reports show that twenty-two (22) police personnel were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests.
2Many of the injured personnel are in life-threatening conditions at the hospitals.
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“Two hundred and five (205) Police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters,” Adamu said.
He noted that despite the unprovoked attacks, “our police officers never resorted to use of unlawful force or shooting at the protesters as alleged in the report.
“It also beggars imagination that Amnesty International failed to mention or pay tribute to Police officers who were gruesomely murdered during the protests while serving their fatherland.
“The Force decries the discriminatory tendencies exhibited by Amnesty International as seen in the report.
“One wonders if in the estimation of Amnesty International, police officers are not also human beings equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights to life and dignity of human person.