By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, on Tuesday paid an official visit to Anambra State Police Command to commiserate with the Command over the unfortunate attacks, killing of four police officers and injuring of fifteen others during the recent #ENDSARS protest.

Speaking at the event, the IGP condoled the families of four slain officers, the injured and those whose personal properties were destroyed during the protests.

He warned that the police would resist any further attempt by miscreants to embark on fresh protest over END SARS, saying that security officers have been ordered to apply maximum force in quelling subsequent future protests and attack on government property and police formations in the country.

Adamu said: “The protest was as a result of an incident in Ughelli, Delta State where a joint task force on security duty was after some suspects and one jumped out of the moving vehicle and was crushed by a moving vehicle.

“Someone videoed the incident and posted it, which led to the nationwide protest across the country. Officers and men of the force have been ordered to ensure that law and order are maintained in their various formations.

“The police will not fold its arms and allow miscreants main and kill their operatives.”

The IGP reiterated the force commitment to protecting the right of citizens to peaceful protest.

While hailing the Command for handling the situation professionally despite the provocation and for resuming full police activities within a shortest period of time, he thanked the State Governor, Willie Obiano, for providing logistic and financial support especially to the families of deceased police officers and to the injured personnel.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police (CP) John Abang than noted that deducing from the outpouring of sympathy and concerns after the three days of mayhem, the Command is certain that police was not attacked by members of the Communities they serve, but by criminals, dissidents and disgruntled elements.

He said that some public spirited philanthropists and state governments have started to rebuild, repair and renovate the facilities barely six weeks after the onslaught.

According to him, reconstruction efforts have commenced in eighteen Police stations/facilities and are presently between 30% and 90% completion.

Abang reassured the IGP that the Command has fully reclaimed the public space in the state in compliance with his directives through a robust operational strategies and visibility patrol by the newly formed Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Operation Udoka, Area Commands and Divisional formations.

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