Police Refutes Amnesty Int'l Protesters Death Claims, Says Policeman Killed Miraculously Woke Up, Mum On Killings In Kano, Kaduna, Niger ~ OsazuwaAkonedo #Abuja #Adenola #Adeolu #Amnesty #Baga #Bauchi #Bola #Bolori #Borno #Damilare #Egbetokun #Gombe #Igp #Ikeja #Jigawa #Kaduna #Kano #Kayode #Niger #Tinubu https://osazuwaakonedo.news/police-refutes-amnesty-intl-protesters-death-claims-says-policeman-killed-miraculously-woke-up-mum-on-killings-in-kano-kaduna-niger/03/08/2024/ #Breaking News Published: August 3rd, 2024 Reshared: August 3, 2024 5:47 pm Nigeria Police Force has disagreed with Amnesty International on the claim of 13
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Nigeria police force has disagreed with Amnesty International on the claim of 13 protesters
00:05killed in the ongoing NBA governance protest in Nigeria, only attributing the killing of
00:10protesters to accident and a swab terrorist attack which it put the total death figure
00:14at 7 as at data of the nationwide protest while keeping mum on the reported killings
00:19of protesters in Kalustet, Kadunastet and Nigerstet.
00:23Nigeria police force in a press statement issued few minutes ago, indicated that the
00:28policeman that was allegedly murdered by protesters as earlier reported by the Inspector
00:32General of Police, IGP doing press briefing on Thursday had miraculously woken up but
00:37in a critical condition at the hospital.
00:40The Nigeria police force in the statement issued on Saturday indicated that two protesters
00:45were killed by hit and run driver.
00:47The statement therefore indicated that the total death that may have occurred since the
00:52NBA governance protest began in Nigeria on Thursday is now 21 as at Friday, the data
00:57of the protest with the exclusion of the policeman which the police said had woken
01:01up.
01:02All 21 persons are civilians.
01:05The statement stated further that the total arrests as at Friday, the data of the NBA
01:09governance in Nigeria is 681 persons, saying some suspects were arrested alongside with
01:16AK-47 rifles.
01:18The statement as signed and made available by the first spokesperson, Oluwiuwa Adejobi,
01:23reads below in quotes.
01:25The Nigeria police force finds it necessary to refute a recent report publicized by Amnesty
01:31International which claims that 13 individuals have lost their lives due to the protests
01:37in Nigeria that began on the 1st of August 2024.
01:41Amnesty International further alleges that security personnel deliberately employed tactics
01:46designed to kill while managing gatherings and used firearms as a tactical tool for protest
01:51management.
01:52The Nigeria police force wishes to provide an accurate account of incidents from the
01:57first two days of the nationwide protests.
02:00In Gonustet, 4 individuals lost their lives and 34 were severely injured in a terrorist
02:07attack by suspected Boko Haram, a SWAT element who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and
02:12detonated an improvised explosive device.
02:16Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Preluca that ran into
02:21the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two civilians.
02:26The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.
02:29Although the vehicle was vandalized after the incident, it has been recovered and is
02:33currently in police custody.
02:36Efforts are ongoing to trace the driver and bring him to justice.
02:40There was another incident reported in Yawi, in Yawi local government area of Kapistet
02:45where a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop.
02:49In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.
02:54The commissioner of police in charge of Kapistet is currently investigating the incident.
02:59This brings the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven.
03:04It is important to state that there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests
03:09apart from those mentioned above.
03:11However, incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and
03:17private businesses, destructions of both public and private property were recorded
03:22during the protests.
03:24Arrests were made with respect to these criminal incidences and a number of recoveries made
03:28from the suspects while the protest was going on.
03:31The Nigeria police personnel deployed to manage the protests have acted professionally,
03:36refraining from using lethal weapons.
03:39In instances where protesters became rioters, the police employed tear gas to disperse them.
03:45Even when our officers on lawful duty were attacked and injured, the police effected
03:50arrests using only tear gas, demonstrating utmost restraint.
03:54In an effort to combat the trend of crimes and criminality, the police have arrested
03:59a total of 681 six at one individuals who committed various criminal offenses such as
04:06armed robbery, arson, mischief and destructions of both public and private property.
04:12Dangerous weapons including two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition were recovered
04:19from the so-called protesters.
04:21Additionally, stolen items such as furniture, electronics, phones, other various shop items
04:28and vital infrastructures worth billions of Naira were recovered from the arrested persons.
04:33Contrary to circulating news, organizers of the protests or protesters were not arrested.
04:39Those in police custody are under investigation for clear connections to criminal activities.
04:45Furthermore, nine police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks
04:51by protesters.
04:52One of them who initially was reported dead miraculously survived but remains in critical
04:57condition.
04:59The ongoing protest has obviously turned violent.
05:02We therefore advise all abiding citizens taking part in the protest across the country to
05:07immediately withdraw from it.
05:09This advice becomes necessary in view of the violence that has characterized the protest
05:14in the last two days.
05:16It is reasonably expected that peaceful protesters would have withdrawn from the protest that
05:21has turned violent.
05:22The Nigeria Police Force is committed to providing accurate information and ensuring the safety
05:28and security of all citizens during these challenging times.
05:32It is essential to recognize that the strategic deployment by the Nigeria Police Force
05:37in collaboration with other security agencies and the decisive calm down on criminal elements
05:42exploiting the protests for unlawful activities has been highly effective in quelling tension
05:47and curbing the violence and anarchy witnessed on the first day of the protests.
05:52During this challenging period, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to performing
05:57its lawful duties with professionalism, maintaining law and order, and preventing anarchy throughout
06:02the country.
06:04The Nigeria Police urges all citizens and residents to disregard unfounded and psychologically
06:09manipulative reports circulating about incidents during these protests.
06:14We had earlier reported on Friday that over 20 persons, including 19 protesters and one
06:19policeman, were on Thursday killed in substance as the nationwide NBAG governance protests
06:24began in Nigeria.
06:26Most of the dead victims were killed by security operators as more than 200 protesters were
06:31arrested across the country with billions of Naira worth of goods and properties destroyed
06:36by the aggrieved Nigerians who took to the streets following what many called hunger
06:40in the land due to the high cost of living by Tingbo had in the country since President
06:44Bola Tingbo came into power on May 29, 2023.
06:48Since Tingbo came into power, prices of foodstuffs have continued to be on the increased side
06:54apparently due to some political decisions the President took to address the economic
06:58situation in the country right from the day he was sworn into power.
07:03Videos and official statements from various states in the country on Thursday indicated
07:07that three protesters were killed in Kano state, six killed in Niger state, three killed
07:12in Kaduna state, one killed in Abuja, two killed in Jigawa state, and four protesters
07:17were killed allegedly by bomb explosion in Bonu state.
07:20Some Nigerians on social media believe the four persons in Bonu state were killed by
07:25security operatives but the Inspector General of Police RGP at a press briefing on Thursday
07:30evening said the protesters were killed by bomb explosion.
07:34The four protesters were killed at Bolori Junction along Baga Road in Bonu state.
07:40The RGP said one police officer was murdered with several others injured by some protesters
07:45he described as hoodlums.
07:47It was gathered that no fewer than 50 persons in Katsina state suspected to be responsible
07:53for the hijack of the protest in the state which led to violence have been arrested by
07:57the state police command.
07:59The state police public relations officer, Abubakar Sadiq, told journalists on Thursday
08:04that the state is relatively calm as the protest has been contained.
08:08Nigeria Police Force confirms it had arrested over 157 persons in Kano state.
08:15Amnesty International has condemned the killing of protesters allegedly by security personnel
08:20across Nigeria, describing the incident as unjustified and unacceptable.
08:25Inspector General of Police Kayode Adewue Betokun during the press briefing said in
08:31quote thus, it is with great sense of responsibility that I address you this evening.
08:35You will recall that upon several indications by various groups of their intent to commence
08:40a nationwide protest on the 1st of August 2024, we rolled out several warnings based
08:45on actionable intelligence at our disposal indicating that some groups were mobilizing
08:50our youths for violent protests with intent to create anarchy in the country.
08:55While some groups claiming to be mobilizing for peaceful protests were doing so with violent
08:59undertones refusing to cooperate with the police on measures to be taken to guarantee
09:04peaceful protests.
09:06On the basis of this intelligence, the police advised that the protests should be shelved
09:10at the instant time.
09:12Where the organizers insisted on going on with the protests, they were advised to stage
09:16the protests in confined locations.
09:19This would have enabled the police provide adequate protection for the protesters and
09:23isolate the criminals whose intention was to loot and destroy in the name of a protest.
09:29This we were doing in furtherance of our duty to protect lives and property and maintaining
09:34law and order.
09:35While we affirm the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and express their
09:40views on issues of national importance, we were wary about the dangers posed by agitation
09:45instigated by some individuals who have shown tendencies to be disloyal to the government
09:50of the day.
09:51Despite our suspicions, we showed good faith through professional conduct by providing
09:56security at strategic locations all aimed at ensuring peaceful conduct during the protests
10:01as the promoters pledged.
10:03Our men deployed nationwide went out with a clear brief to ensure that no one is unnecessarily
10:08harassed or intimidated.
10:10In places where there were court orders, we gave instructions for observance of self.
10:15Regrettably, events in some major cities today showed that what was being instigated was
10:20mass uprising and looting, not protest.
10:23Those who were in the forefront of promoting the idea of the protests were not around to
10:27lead it.
10:29Code names have been let loose on innocent Nigerians and their hard-earned businesses
10:33and property looted and destroyed.
10:35The motive of the rioters was basically to loot and destroy both private and government
10:40property.
10:42The destruction so far has been mind-boggling.
10:45There has been destruction in Kano, Bonu, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT Abuja, Niger,
10:52Chegawa.
10:53Police stations have been destroyed, there has been attempts to take over government
10:58houses, looting of government infrastructures, several warehouses and shops have so far been
11:03looted and, in several instances, completely destroyed.
11:07In spite of the refusal of the protesters, for instance in FCT to adhere to a court order
11:13requesting that protests in Abuja should be at the national schedule, they trooped into
11:17the streets and yet the police provided security for them.
11:21At what point did we breach here?
11:23Fundamental rights even as they breached court order.
11:26In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked
11:33attacks on security personnel, where one policeman has been reported murdered and
11:37others seriously injured.
11:39We alerted earlier on that terror elements may take advantage of the protests to infiltrate
11:44the crowd of protesters with suicide bombers.
11:47Yesterday in Lagos, our UUD team was informed of a suspected IED on Bang Anthony Way, Ikeja.
11:53The team responded swiftly and rendered safe what turned out to be an improvised explosive
11:58device ride.
12:00Today in Banustet, we recorded one incident of explosion which occurred in the crowd of
12:04protesters killing four instantly and severely injuring 34 others, many of whom are presently
12:10on danger list.
12:12We wish to advise law-abiding citizens of Nigeria to heed and not dismiss warnings given
12:17by the police and other security agencies which were based on credible and actionable
12:21security intelligence.
12:24In the light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units
12:28on red alerts.
12:30Our officers are fully mobilized and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any further
12:35threats to public safety and order.
12:38We remain committed and resolute to protecting lives and property and ensuring that law and
12:42order are maintained across the nation.
12:45Groups who are hiding under the guise of exercise of a right provided in the constitution to
12:50destabilize the country should remember that the same constitution impose on them the duty
12:55to obey the laws of the land and respect the rights of other citizens.
12:59The police is equipped to respond appropriately to the unfolding situation and will get assistance
13:04from other security agencies including the military if the need arises.
13:09We appeal to all citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the police and other security
13:14agencies during this challenging period.
13:17Your safety is our top priority and we will continue to take all necessary measures to
13:22ensure continued peace and stability in our country.
13:26Thank you, the IGP stated.
13:28The Director of Mobilization, Techies Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said the protest
13:34would continue until President Gola Tinubo acceded to their demands.
13:39The protestors said they are demanding the reversal of petrol pump price to 100 Nairas
13:43per litre and until insecurity, the closing of IDP camps and electoral reform among other
13:49themes.
13:50Adenola said the various orders of court restricting protestors to particular locations are an
13:56aberration.
13:57Our presence here today is an announcement that we have been oppressed by the law.
14:02Today, we have reason.
14:04We are saying that unless President Gola Tinubo acceded to our demands, we will remain on
14:09the streets.
14:10We want to see the President on the streets.
14:13During the protest, he was on the streets.
14:16One of the organizers of the protest, Michael Lenin, said it would continue on Friday today
14:22regardless of the intimidation by the security agencies.
14:26He told reporters that the protest will continue.
14:29We are not intimidated by what the security agencies do.
14:32This government does not appear like one ready to listen to the citizens with the way
14:37protestors were attacked today.
14:39We are resolute until he meets our demands, we will remain on the streets.