Mbu denies order to shoot civilians

Former Rivers State Commissioner
of Police and current Assistant-
Inspector General of Police in
charge of Zone 2, Lagos, has said he
was misquoted by reports that he
ordered policemen to kill 20
civilians for every officer killed in
the coming general elections.
Mbu in a statement signed by the
Zonal Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Olugbemiga Adeoye,
explained that he only “advised his
policemen not to be cowardly but
to be guided by Force Order 237 on
the use of their firearms.”
According to him, the firearms are
not only meant to defend
themselves but also others
“including fellow police officers
when their lives are in danger.”
The AIG, who said he was quoted
out of context, believes that
reports on the issue have been
fraught with political undertone.
He said such reports were geared
towards portraying him in a bad
light and as an officer who does not
uphold the rule of law.
The statement said, “Although
policemen are not to be seen with
firearms within a specific radius of
the polling area, quick response
squads will be created to respond
to distress calls.
“There is no society in the world
where policemen will be killed by
hoodlums and the perpetrators will
be allowed to escape justice.”
He said he was also quoted out of
context on the alleged order to
arrest governors at polling units.
“What he (Mbu) said was that no
highly placed individuals in the
society who have police escorts
and other forms of personal guards
will be allowed within the voting
area accompanied by such retinue
of escorts,” the statement said.