By Boye Ajayi
In what looks like reinstalling confidence in policemen after the #EndSARS protests, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, on Friday directed them to defend themselves in the face of physical danger.
He said policemen “are also humans whose lives must be protected.”
Adamu, who spoke during an assessment tour of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, noted that as security personnel they had become demoralised, saying the tendency is for criminals to want to take over the public space.
According to him, the unity of the country lies in the support being given to police officers to once again perform their constitutional duties.
The country, the IG said, was relying on them to ensure that the public spaces were not taken over by criminals, adding “no amount of provocation, no amount of insult should make them shy away from their responsibilities.”
“We will encourage you to keep performing your duties. We would encourage you to be professional, to be civic, but if anybody touches you, if anybody comes to assault you, you can also protect yourself.”
Stressing that police were also human and had rights to be protected, Adamu said the message that they had to legally protect their rights had become imperative.
“When we talk of human beings, policemen are also included.”
Persecondnews recalls that Nigerian policemen became targets of brutal reprisal following soldiers’ shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Tollgate on Oct. 20.
Hundreds of hoodlums, who hijacked the peaceful protests had killed many policemen and burnt down about 20 police stations across the nation.
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