#EndBadGovernance: WE ARRESTED CRIMINALS ENGAGED IN ARSON, MASSIVE LOOTING, NOT MINORS

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The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, has addressed recent media reports alleging that minors were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests, calling these reports a “mischievous narrative” being spread by certain groups. According to him, the Nigerian Police Force did not detain any minors for participating in protests; instead, those arrested were individuals allegedly involved in criminal activities such as arson, property destruction, breaking into public facilities, and looting shops and supermarkets.

The IGP emphasized that the arrests were focused on those committing these specific criminal acts rather than peaceful protesters or minors. His statement seeks to clarify the police’s stance and approach during the protest, where they aimed to curb violent elements rather than infringe upon peaceful assemblies.

He further disclosed that Policemen, who were found providing escort duties to foreigners (100 Chinese and Malaysians) arrested for cyber criminality and fraudulent acts in Abuja, were performing illegal duties and have been arrested as “they were not formally deployed. They have been remanded in custody and will be dealt with according to the law.”

The IGP made this known at a workshop on “Enhancing Professionalism and Standardization in Criminal Investigation,” held for heads of Police Investigative and Intelligence Units across the country” at the Police Resource Centre, Abuja.

Egbetokun said: “Firstly, I want to thank President Bola Tinubu for his fatherly disposition in directing the release of all the those arrested. But let me correct an impression, nobody, including any minor was arrested for embarking over the end bad governance protest. We provided security from protesters because we said it that they have right to protest.

“Those arrested were criminal elements who broke into warehouses, shops, were looting. Those who were committing arson burning down peoples properties and public facilities by setting them on fire are the people we arrested.

“Minors were not arrested for participating in end bad governance protest. We arrested criminals They were not people who participated in protest. It is a mischievous narrative being sold out there.

“The suspects were criminals arrested during that period of protest. They were captured on video committing arson, destroying public properties. We saw on video, the vandalization of public properties, large scale looting of trading stores and arson.”

Warning that Police officers who compromised investigation would be made to face sanction, the IGP said: “Any officer found wanting compromising integrity of our investigation department will be sanctioned.

“Officers who were alleged to have arrested minors will not be sanctioned because they arrested criminals, not protesters or minors,” he added.