You’re trained to maim not kill; target the knee not the chest – IGP charges police

 

The Inspector General of Police Mr. Mohammed Adamu has charged police officers to apply “Force Order 237” whenever they perceive their lives are in danger.

Adamu said that officers of the Nigerian Police Force would never fold their arms and allow the #EndSARS protest in any state of the nation to repeat itself.

The IGP who stated that police officers were demoralised after the EndSARS protest also called on his men to always invoke virtual rules of engagement as stipulated both in the constitution and as amended in the police act.

Mohammed made this known on Tuesday in Abakiliki, during his one-day working visit to Ebonyi State Police Command, Abakiliki.

He explained that the force was ready to allow, peaceful protest in any part of the nation but would deal decisively with any group that truncated the rules.

Also, the IGP educated officers of the command on their rules of engagement, warning that they were not trained to kill but to maim, especially when a suspect attempts escaping from custody.

“But as police officers you are not allowed to kill, you are only to maim that person and you are to target the person’s knee not the chest.

“So, when it comes to situation where you need to use maximum force especially in the use of firearms, don’t forget to apply the rule as it covers “Force Order 237” which is when your life is in danger.

“Again, there is another way of using the firearms as contained Constitutionally in section 33,12 of the constitution as amended.

“So, because of their attack on police and police facilities, there’s tendency for the police officers to feel demoralised.

“Houses were destroyed, police vehicles were destroyed, the worst hit state was Lagos.

“The CP has just explained the damage that happened in Ebonyi. And I believe the people has felt it.

“So, not only the people of Ebonyi but the whole nation, up to the extent that nobody in the country would accept again that kind of protest. Nigerian police will never again tolerate that kind of EndSARS protest”, he explained.

READ: Police makes U-turn, withdraws suit against #EndSARS probe panels

Mohammed further assured that the force was ever ready to guard and protect individuals who engage in peaceful protest, adding that it was the constitutional right of every Nigerian.

“If you are ready to go on peaceful protest, the police will provide you with all the security you need, it is your constitutional right but your right should not trample on other people’s right.

“And if it is going to be violent you are going to be met with maximum force that will force you to drop that violent protest.

“So, our rule of engagement as you know it, we’ll continue to apply it when it comes to suppressing violence essentially riot and while we are doing that and on ground, you access the situation…”

“If it is peaceful, access it and apply the rule of engagement and when it is violent, you change the rule of engagement that is required you don’t need to call back to CP.

“That is why you are trained and you are on ground take responsibility but we must access whatever decision you took.

“We are specially trained to handle human beings; you are also trained to take certain actions on behalf of Nigerians that ordinarily we should not have taken but because you wear the uniform you need to take it.

Earlier, the state Commissioner of police, CP. Philip Maku said that the command lost a total of five officers during the EndSARS protest.