Restore order nationwide immediately, IGP orders AIGs, CPs

Mohammed Adamu, Nigeria’s inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered the immediate deployment operational assets and resources to bring an end to the nationwide unrest.

The IGP, who gave the order in a statement on Saturday, asked all police heads to immediately restore order.

”The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the immediate mobilization of all police operational assets and resources to bring an end to the wanton violence, killings, looting and destruction of public and private property, and reclaim the public space from criminal elements masquerading as protesters in some parts of the country,” the statement issued by Frank Mba, police spokesman, said.

”The IGP gave the order to all Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), Heads of Police Operational Units, Squadron and Base Commanders in charge of Zonal/State/FCT Commands, the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and the Special Protection Unit, today 24th October, 2020. In addition, CPs/Heads of Police Formations in the various states have also been charged to mobilize their men and work in sync with the Command CPs in the areas where they are domiciled, to dominate the public space and ensure peace and safety in the affected areas.

”The IGP, while noting that enough is enough to all acts of lawlessness, disruption of public peace and order and wanton violence which have resulted to indiscriminate looting of shops, malls and ware houses, damage to property and loss of lives in some parts of the country, further directs the Police strategic managers to personally lead and coordinate the operation and use all legitimate means, to halt further slide into lawlessness and brigandage.”

There have been looting of property and vandalisation of public assets across the country since Tuesday.

Hoodlums, who exploited the EndSARS protests, unleashed violence on citizens and businesses in Lagos, Cross River, Rivers and other states.In Lagos, a number of public infrastructure was razed while shopping malls were looted. Media houses were not spared in the attacks — TVC and The Nation newspaper suffered onslaughts of vandals.

In Cross River, Plateau, Edo and Osun, some citizens resorted to looting warehouses where COVID-19 relief materials were kept.