A total of 27 police personnel have suffered series of attacks and assault since the commencement of enforcement of directives to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has revealed.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, Adamu warned that the police would not tolerate any unprovoked attack and assault on police officers in the course of their duties.
“Perpetrators will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the IGP was said to have declared.
Mba said many of the personnel attacked were at present in hospitals receiving treatment for the injuries sustained.
Those attacked, he said, included a female police officer, PC Ngozi Nkem, in Agbor, Delta State who was seriously assaulted when a police team was dispersing a group of persons holding a birthday party.
Some citizens, he said, also attacked some police assets and facilities.
Two police stations and police quarters were said to have also been attacked and burnt down in Katsina and Abia states while 15 police vehicles/motorcycles were damaged.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, was said to have commended the DCO II, Eruwa Police Division, ASP Adeyemo Ogunyemi, for his restraint and professionalism in the face of unprovoked attack.
According to him, as shown in a viral video, a woman identified as Kehinde Afolake was seen assaulting Ogunyemi unchallenged and without retaliation, while he was carrying out the COVID-19 enforcement duties at Gbolagunte, Okeola area of Eruwa, Ibarapa, Oyo State on 1st May, 2020.
Describing his restraint as uncommon, the police boss said the officer, like a lamb being led to the slaughter, did not fight back but rather, maintained absolute calm, patience and decorum even as the woman rough handled him and slapped him several times.
“The said woman also assaulted two female police officers, Inspr. Ojola Abiola and Inspr. Queen Eguaoje and gave one of them human bite on Saturday, 2nd May, 2020 during an attempt to invite her to the Police Station for the earlier incident of serious assault on the DCO. The Ewura incident thus is a classic example of unprovoked, unwarranted and unnecessary attacks faced by police officers in the course of performing their legitimate duties,” the police boss said in the statement issued.
Mba said the IGP had directed the Commissioner of Police, Oyo Command, to carry out a discreet investigation into the Ewura attack on the police officers and ensure that justice was done.
The IGP was said to have enjoined the citizens to continue to cooperate with the police and other security personnel who might be carrying out enforcement orders, and voluntarily comply with all COVID-19 prevention efforts.
He reiterated that the Force would continue to hold officers accountable and mete out commensurate punishments on any personnel who might violate the rights of the citizens.
