Funke Busari, Lagos
The Inspector General of police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has commended policemen in Lagos for displaying maximum restraint in the face of provocation from hoodlums and miscreants in the aftermath of the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protest across the state.
He also announced that 1,596 suspects have been arrested all over the country.
IGP gave the commendation to men of the Lagos State Police Command of the Nigerian Police Force during his official visit to the Police Headquarters where he had a closed-door meeting with officers of the rank and file.
The police chief told police officers at a press briefing preceded by the close door meeting, “I congratulate you for that resilience, I congratulate you for showing restraint, Adamu said.
According to him, “Anybody that comes into any country, the first sign of authority will be the police …, while the police in distress is being attacked by hoodlums and miscreants, in this order that we’ve seen, the tendency is for the police to be provoked and when you are provoked you have the power, capacity without restraint to repel these people.
“But you’ve shown restraint, you’ve shown maximum restraint, by not using maximum force to repel the miscreants, the criminals, the criminals that went destroying properties and killing people here and there.
“So that resilience that you’ve shown in showing restraint has shown that no amount of provocation will lead to police brutality.
In his welcome remark, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu informed the IGP, that despite the challenges and trauma that his men were made to go through, they were not deterred.
Odumosu said, “We have patriotically, professionally and gallantly fought the miscreants to stand still, arrested 520 so far.
“They are currently being prosecuted in conjunction with the State’s Ministry of Justice.
“A lot of the looted items have been recovered. We have restored peace to the state.
“Businesses are picking up; social activities too are coming to its peak in line with COVID-19 Protocols.
CP Odumosu urged the IGP to consider and approve posthumous special promotions for the police personnel who lost their lives to the recent EndSARS unrest in Lagos State.
He opined that such gesture will give succour to their families and boost the morale of the serving officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.
“He further appealed to the IGP to also approve additional Anti Riot Equipment for the Lagos State Police Command, adding that the police chief approve and release four Water Canons to the command to make the management and/or control of riots easier and more professional for the command.
Earlier the Police Chief inspected some affected police stations and formations, following which he paid courtesy visits to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos.
