Why we killed Shiite members in Kano – Police
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, on
Tuesday justified the killing of some Shiites members by policemen in
Kano on Monday.
Ibrahim spoke with State House correspondents shortly after
attending the launch of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and
Appeal Fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
About 15 Shiite members and one policeman were said to have
lost their lives during the clash between the members of the sect and
the police.
The clash was also said to have left no fewer than four policemen and 10 Shiite members injured.
When asked why policemen would resort to killing people
while quelling protests, Ibrahim said his men were confronted by
protesters who were armed to the teeth.
He said rather than condemning police action, Nigerians
should sympathise with the policemen who were killed by those he
described as miscreants.
“I agree with what you said (that Nigerians should not be
killed while quelling riot) 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 a dangerous
situation, and be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by
some of these miscreants,” he said.
Ibrahim said police officers who had responsibility to
ensure law and order decided to move against the group known to always
cause crisis.
He said it was unlawful for the sect members to block a major road.
The police boss said, “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.
“As of early yesterday (Monday), we got information that
they were trying to block Kano to Zaria road. They later assembled in
large number and our officers were deployed in 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.”
Ibrahim added that policemen have the responsibility
to ensure that no organisation or individuals constitute themselves into
a government and block roads and buildings.
On the claim that the protesters have freedom of worship,
the police boss said they could only worship inside mosques or churches
and not on the main road.
He urged Nigerians to always respect other people’s rights while carrying out their activities.
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