The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, has explained why police officers killed some Shiites members in Kano yesterday.
Recall that about 15 Shiite members and one policeman reportedly lost their lives during yesterday’s clash between the movement and the police in Kano.
Addressing State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, the Police boss explained that the police opened fire on the Shiite members in self defence, adding that members of the sect were “armed to teeth.”
Idris said Nigerians should sympathise with the policemen who were killed by those he described as miscreants, rather than condemning the action of his men.
He said, “I agree with what you said (that Nigerians should not be killed while quelling riot) but when you have Nigerians armed to the teeth, killing police officers, I don’t think it happens anywhere.
“I think as Nigerians, we have to appreciate a dangerous situation, and be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.
“Obviously from time to time, we have been experiencing upheavals from this set of people.
“As police officers, we have responsibility to ensure there is law and order and when you have people taking over the whole country, dominating streets and buildings, we have to come in to maintain sanity in those areas.
“As of early yesterday (Monday), we got information that they were trying to block Kano to Zaria road. They later assembled in large number and our officers were deployed in the place to ensure freedom of movement of ordinary Nigerians.
“They attacked our officers, killed one of our officers. One has sustained an arrow wound on his head and obviously in such a situation, police have the responsibility to ensure free movement of people on the road. And that was what our officers did.”
