IGP Orders Nationwide Security Beef-Up Over Shi’ites Protest
In the wake of a series of violent protests and unrest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) who are demanding the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate beef-up of security in all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement in Abuja Friday, gave assurance that the IGP has taken that proactive measures, including aerial surveillance of major cities, to ensure the safety and security of lives and property of all Nigerians.
Mba who is a Deputy Commissioner of Police said all zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) nationwide had been mandated to ensure that customised security arrangements were put in place in their Areas of Responsibility (AORs) to checkmate the activities of criminals and any possible threat to public peace.
READ: Why Police Use Live Ammunition Against Shiites – Presidential Aide
He, therefore, implored citizens to be wary of circulating unsubstantiated security advisories capable of creating unnecessary apprehension in the country.
The Police boss also advised all would-be protesters to ensure they express their grievances within the ambit of the law so as not to infringe on the constitutional rights of other citizens or cause breach of the public peace.
In a related development, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has justified the continued detention of the IMN leader, El-Zakzaky; a former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), contrary to several court orders.
When asked by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, why the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had ignored court orders granting certain individuals bails while he (Malami) was the nation’s chief prosecuting officer during hos screening as a ministerial nominee by the Senate, Malami told the the upper chamber that the Federal Government ignored the court orders in deference to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also claimed that the individual interests of the likes of El-Zakzaky and Dasuki were in conflict with the public interest.
READ: Concerned Nigerians Condemns Police Over Alleged Aggression Against Shiites
“I concede that I had a responsibility as the Attorney General of the Federation to protect individual rights. But looking at the provisions of Section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I want to reiterate and state further that the office of the Attorney General is made to protect public interest and where the individual interests conflict with public interest, the interest of 180 million Nigerians that are interested in having this country integrated must naturally prevail.
“And I think that position has been very well captured by the apex court that had stated in the case of Alhaji Asari Dokubo and the Federal Government of Nigeria that where an individual interest conflicts public interest, the latter naturally prevails,” he said.
