Police Officers And Men Are Demoralised – IGP |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu says Police personnel are demoralised. And worried by the attacks, killings, and maiming of Police Officers and the destruction of their Stations, Adamu has called on his Officers and Men to defend themselves by fighting back when attacked.

The call by the IGP was imminent following series of attacks on the Police personnel since the #EndSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums, killing and setting Police Stations around the country ablaze. Arms and ammunitions were also stolen.

The IGP said men and officers have the right to defend themselves in case of physical danger.

He made this declaration during an assessment tour of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command in Abuja, on Friday, where he also encouraged the operatives who had abandoned the streets in the past five days, following the killing of, at the last count,  22 policemen in the violent protest that rocked the country.

The police boss alleged that the #EndSARS protesters were out to demoralise the personnel, adding that the Government and the Nigeria Police Force would soon roll out packages for the families of the deceased officers.

His words: “The unity of this country lies in the support that is given to police officers because if you are demoralised, the tendency is for criminals to take over the public space and the country is relying on us to make sure that the public space is not taken over by the criminals. So no amount of provocation, no amount of insult would make us shy away from our responsibilities.

“Inasmuch as we are aware that the government is behind us, we would 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.

“When we talk of human rights, the police are human; so, the rights of police officers would also be protected. So, we are sending the message that legally, we have the right to protect ourselves. But while we are doing that, we make sure that it is until we are endangered.”