The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun has said that contrary to the “mischievous narrative” being peddled in the media by certain groups, the Nigerian Police Force did not arrest any minor for protesting during the #EndBadGovernance protest in the country, rather the Police arrested criminal elements, who were committing arson, burning down properties, public facilities, breaking into and looting shops, supermarkets, among other offences.
He further disclosed that Policemen, who were found providing escort duties to foreigners (100 Chinese and Malaysians) arrested for cyber criminality and fraudulent acts in Abuja, were performing illegal duties and have been arrested as “they were not formally deployed. They have been remanded in custody and will be dealt with according to the law.”
The IGP made this known at a workshop on “Enhancing Professionalism and Standardization in Criminal Investigation,” held for heads of Police Investigative and Intelligence Units across the country” at the Police Resource Centre, Abuja.
Egbetokun said: “Firstly, I want to thank President Bola Tinubu for his fatherly disposition in directing the release of all the those arrested. But let me correct an impression, nobody, including any minor was arrested for embarking over the end bad governance protest. We provided security from protesters because we said it that they have right to protest.
“Those arrested were criminal elements who broke into warehouses, shops, were looting. Those who were committing arson burning down peoples properties and public facilities by setting them on fire are the people we arrested.
“Minors were not arrested for participating in end bad governance protest. We arrested criminals They were not people who participated in protest. It is a mischievous narrative being sold out there.
“The suspects were criminals arrested during that period of protest. They were captured on video commiting arson, destroying public properties. We saw on video, the vandalization of public properties, large scale looting of trading stores and arson.”
Warning that Police officers who compromised investigation would be made to face sanction, the IGP said: “Any officer found wanting compromising integrity of our investigation department will be sanctioned.
“Officers who were alleged to have arrested minors will not be sanctioned because they arrested criminals, not protesters or minors,” he added.
