Killed Shiites Members armed to the teeth – IGP

By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim has justified Monday’s shooting and killing of some members of the Shi’ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) during the group’s clash with men of the Nigerian police in Kano metropolis.
Noting that during riot citizens should not be killed, the police boss however insisted that “if those involved in the riot are armed to the teeth, killing police officers, the method deployed by the police should be appreciated and sympathised with.
“Killing police officers, I don’t think it happens anywhere. We have to appreciate a dangerous situation, and to be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.”‎
The IGP spoke Tuesday in Abuja while responding to questions from newsmen in the State House, at the end of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem launch, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers of the presidential Villa.
Recall that the clash reportedly started around Tamburawa, on the outskirts of Kano city, when the police tried to stop a Shiite protest.
Several people including a police officer were feared killed during the violent clash.
The IMN had on Sunday accused Nigerian soldiers of plotting to block its members heading to Kano from Yobe State while also pointing weapons on them.
On the need for the police authorities to deploy more scientific ways of quelling riot without killing Nigerians, the IG said,”I agree with what you said, 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, when you appreciate a dangerous situation, and to be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.
“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 responsilitity to ensure free movement of people on the road. And that was what our officers did”.
On the fears that the development could result in another Boko Haram situation, Idris said, “Obviously, it is. Whether now or whenever, as police officers we have a responsiblity to ensure there is law and order in any part of this country and to ensure that no organisation or individual should constitute themselves into a government, block passages and buildings”.
Also responding to argument that the constitution guarantees freedom of movement and association in the country, the IGP insisted the Shiite movement blocked the road and were not exercising freedom of movement.
“What happens is that there is nothing like freedom there. When you worship, you go to mosques or churches. Blocking highways and passages doesn’t constitute part of worship.
“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.”