Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, Tuesday, justified the counter attack by the police on members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
The clash which resulted in the death of some of the Shiite members occurred in Tamburawa, on the outskirts of Kano city, when security agents tried to stop the Shiite members from engaging in procession.
Speaking with State House correspondents, Idris said police officers have the responsibility to ensure law and order.
He 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 numbers and our officers were deployed to 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,” Idris said.
Asked the situation could have been avoided without loss of lives, the Inspector General of Police said, “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, when you appreciate a dangerous situation, and to be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.”
According to him, the freedom of movement in the country does not include blocking of highways and passages as demonstrated by the Shiite members.
“My message to Nigerians is that all of us should be our brother’s keepers. We should appreciate the feeling of others that where your right ends, another person’s right begins.
“Every Nigerian has a right that must be protected. We should ensure we protect the rights of every individual right of freedom, right of association and right of movement”, he said.
Comments