Arase: Police IGP

*Urges Ohanaeze to curb the protesters

The Inspector General of  Police Solomon Arase has debunked allegations that policemen shot or maimed members of   Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who staged street protests  in some eastern states of Nigeria.

Arase said on the contrary the  police succeeded in managing  the situation with high sense of responsibility and professionalism, despite the provocative protests, which infringed  on the rights and freedom of innocent citizens who were ordinarily going about their lawful businesses

“The Nigeria Police Force is conscious of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association amongst others as enshrined in Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), and cannot afford to maim or kill citizens exercising these rights.”, Arase said in a statement signed by ACP Bisi Kolawole.

 The Inspector-General of Police therefore called on all law abiding citizens to disregard the allegations by these groups, describing their allegations as false and calculated attempt to attract undue attention and sympathy.

Arase however warned both MASSOB and IPOB members  to respect the rights and freedom of others while exercising theirs. 

He called  on  the leadership of Ohanaeze to wade into “these superfluous protests, to save the law-abiding and innocent citizens in the affected states from the hardship being meted out by the groups”.

He  also reminded those embarking on violent protests/assemblies that such actions are criminalised by law, and anybody arrested will be treated as such under the appropriate legislations.