….The Force rejects the Amnesty International report
and allegation against the Police on use of deadly force against IMN members as
untrue, absolute distortion and diversionary.
The Nigeria Police said that its attention has been
drawn to the Amnesty International Report published on 31st October, 2018,
captioned “Nigeria: Security forces must be held accountable for killing of at
least 45 peaceful Shi’a protesters”.
In a press release by the Force Public Relations
Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, he said that the Nigeria Police Force after a
careful study the entire report and the allegation against the Police on
paragraph 3 of the report “We have seen a shocking and unconscionable use of
deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members. Video footage and
eyewitness testimonies consistently show that the Nigerian military dispersed
peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without warning, in clear
violation of Nigerian and international law,” said Osai Ojigho, Director of
Amnesty International Nigeria”
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state
categorically that the allegation against the Police by the Amnesty
International as stated in paragraph 3 quoted above is in its entirety untrue,
misleading, a clear misrepresentation and absolute distortion of facts to
divert attention from the heinous crimes committed by the El-Zazakky Group,
which include unprovoked attack on Police personnel and the setting ablaze of
Police vehicle in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on 30th October,
2018 and disturbance of public peace and public safety in and around the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on the said date.
The Police Spokesperson further said that there was
no report of death in any Police Station in the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT), Abuja from the Police intervention and quelling of the disturbance of
public peace and public safety, and unrest created by the El-Zazakky group in
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on the 30th of October, 2018.
“The Force despite the height of provocation from
the El-Zazakky group and the setting ablaze of a Police patrol vehicle resist
the use of maximum force on the group but effected the arrest of Four Hundred
(400) members of the group for disturbance of public peace, disruption of law
and order in the Federal Capital Territory and setting ablaze of Police patrol
vehicle. Some of the members of the El-Zazakky groups were also arrested with
Thirty One (31) bottles of petrol bombs, other dangerous weapons and illicit
drugs. All those arrested are being prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The Force sees the Amnesty International allegation
against the Police as deliberate and desperate attempt to cast aspersions on
the investigation and ongoing prosecution of the arrested members of the
El-Zazakky Group to pervert the end of justice.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not be deterred from
carrying its statutory duties nor condone lawlessness, disturbance of
public peace and public safety by any group(s) under any guise that runs
contrary to the constitutional provisions and other enabling laws on
preservation of law and order and protection of lives and property of all
Nigerians.
“The general public are hereby implored to disregard
and discountenance the allegation by Amnesty International that the Police used
deadly force against IMN members as untrue, diversionary and distortion of
fact.
“For avoidance of doubt, the Force has continuously
in the last two (2) years contained several violent protests by the El-Zazakky
group using minimum force within the Federal Capital Territory and in the
process, some Police personnel sustained various degree of injuries and some
police vehicles damaged while preventing the El-Zazakky group from causing
breakdown of law and order in the FCT. Some Police officers were killed in
Kaduna and Kano States by the El-Zazakky group within the same period.
Aftermath of these violent protests, the Police have always charged the
arrested members of the El-Zazakky group to Court. This can be verified by the
Amnesty International and the general public.
“The Force will continue to operate within the ambit
of the law and ensure the diligent prosecution of the arrested members of the
El-Zazakky group on the 30th October, 2018 for acts and offences prohibited
under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013, the statement concluded.
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