The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stated on Tuesday that neither the police, military, nor any other security agencies involved in managing the recent #EndBadGovernance protests used live ammunition or excessive force against demonstrators. Egbetokun made these remarks during a meeting of security agency heads in Abuja.
He emphasized that, contrary to some reports, it was the security personnel who faced attacks from protesters. “The police and military, as well as other security agencies involved, did not deploy excessive force during the protests. Instead, our officers were subjected to attacks,” Egbetokun stated. He further clarified, “There were no incidents of police shootings recorded during the protests.”
Egbetokun also dispelled claims that live ammunition was used, asserting that only non-lethal measures, such as tear gas, were employed. “The police and military did not use live ammunition. In fact, some of our officers were injured and are currently in critical condition. We did not use rubber bullets or water cannons, despite the protests turning violent,” he added.
Regarding the police’s capacity during the protests, Egbetokun assured that the force was not overstretched and had reserves that were not deployed. He noted that even while managing the protests, the police were able to apprehend several criminals involved in other offenses, though kidnapping was not among them.
Addressing rumors about an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) being hijacked by protesters in Kaduna, Egbetokun clarified the situation. “The APC was not hijacked. It was deployed to the Government House in Kaduna, and when protesters attempted to climb on it, the driver simply returned to the front of the Government House gate. It was not a case of hijacking.”
Speaking on the presence of police at the Abuja stadium, the Inspector-General explained that the deployment was to ensure the safety of peaceful protesters. “We did not take over the stadium; we were there to provide security. We have always respected the rights of citizens to protest peacefully, and our presence was to guarantee that safety,” Egbetokun concluded.
