The Nigeria Police Force, on Saturday, said a total of 681 criminal elements were arrested for committing various offences between Thursday and Friday.
This was as the police stated that personnel deployed for the protests had been professional.
The police made this known while responding to the report released by Amnesty International which accused security agencies of killing 13 protesters on the first day of the protest.
The international organisation also slammed the security personnel for deliberately employing tactics designed to kill while managing gatherings and using firearms as a tactical tool for protest management.
PUNCH Online reported on Friday that Amnesty International condemned the killing of 13 protesters allegedly killed by security personnel across Nigeria, describing the incident as “unjustified and unacceptable”.
The Country Director, Isa Sanusi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
However, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday, disagreed with AI’s figures and the allegations levelled against the security operatives.
Adejobi added that apart from the arrests, weapons, including two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition were recovered from the “so-called protesters”.
He said, “The Nigeria Police Force finds it necessary to refute a recent report publicised by Amnesty International, which claims that 13 individuals have lost their lives due to the protests in Nigeria that began on August 1, 2024.
“To combat the trend of crimes and criminality, the police have arrested a total of 681 individuals who committed various criminal offences such as armed robbery, arson, mischief, and destruction of both public and private property. Dangerous weapons, including two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition, were recovered from the so-called protesters.
“Additionally, stolen items such as furniture, electronics, phones, other various shop items, and vital infrastructures worth billions of naira were recovered from the arrested persons. Contrary to circulating news, organizers of the protest or protesters were not arrested.”
Providing clarification on the causality figures, Adejobi said a total of seven persons died.
He said, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to provide an accurate account of incidents from the first two days of the nationwide protests. In Borno State, four individuals lost their lives and 34 were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device.
“Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two civilians. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Although the vehicle was vandalised after the incident, it has been recovered and is currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to trace the driver and bring him to justice.
“There was another incident reported in Yauri, in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilised to loot a shop. In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters. The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State is currently investigating the incident. This brings the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven.”
He said nine policemen had been injured so far.
Adejobi said, “Those in police custody are under investigation for clear connections to criminal activities. Furthermore, nine police officers sustained various degrees of injuries during attacks by protesters. One of them who initially was reported dead, miraculously survived but remains in critical condition.”
Adejobi noted the protest had turned violent, urging law-abiding citizens not to join anymore.
He said, “The ongoing protest has turned violent. We therefore advise law-abiding citizens taking part in the protest across the country to immediately withdraw from it. This advice becomes necessary in view of the violence that has characterized the protest in the last two days. It is reasonably expected that Peaceful protesters would have withdrawn from the protest that has turned violent.”
Adejobi also said the strategic deployment by security agencies had been effective in curbing the anarchy witnessed on the first day.
He said, “It is essential to recognize that the strategic deployment by the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, and the decisive clampdown on criminal elements exploiting the protests for unlawful activities, has been highly effective in quelling tension and curbing the violence and anarchy witnessed on the first day of the protests.
“During this challenging period, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to performing its lawful duties with professionalism, maintaining law and order, and preventing anarchy throughout the country. The Nigeria Police urges all citizens and residents to disregard unfounded and psychologically manipulative reports circulating about incidents during these protests.”
PUNCH
