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IGP Counsels Police On Pro-Biafra Protests

By Chukwujekwu Ilozue, Onitsha
12 December 2015   |   3:20 am
THE Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has counseled policemen in Anambra State to approach their duty with caution in the democratic dispensation. Part of that caution, he said, is that in quelling protests, they should aim to maim and not to kill. He spoke against the backdrop of allegations that policemen killed some protesters…
Arase

Arase

THE Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has counseled policemen in Anambra State to approach their duty with caution in the democratic dispensation.

Part of that caution, he said, is that in quelling protests, they should aim to maim and not to kill.

He spoke against the backdrop of allegations that policemen killed some protesters in Onitsha during the pro-Biafran protests two weeks ago.

He said instead, the Police lost an officer and merely arrested 15 protesters, who would soon be charged with criminal offence in the court of law.

He urged the policemen, after inspecting a guard of honour at the state command headquarters, to be very careful how they handle protesters.

“This is democracy. Be professional. Don’t shoot to kill. Shoot to maim and put the person out when you are threatened,” he counseled them.

He praised policemen drafted from other formations to handle the protests in the state and promised that they would be promoted after their assignment because of their good work.

He reminded them that there are periods when a policeman does not use his firearms and cautioned that in ventilating one’s grievances, he/she should not infringe on the rights of others.

He restated that protests are not banned, but that protesters should not take laws into their hands.

As for preparations for the Christmas, Arase said the Police would dominate its environment and secure it maximally.

He later moved to Ekwueme Square, where he received 25 purpose-built patrol vehicles donated to the Police by the state government to enhance crime fighting.

The vehicles were specially kitted for Police response, speed guns to detect over-speeding by vehicles and alcohol detecting device in drivers.

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