The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Monday broke the silence over alleged arrest of minors during last August #EndBadGovernance protests.
Egbetokun emphasised that those detained were criminal elements engaged in arson, destruction of property as well as looting of shops and public facilities, adding that they were not peaceful protesters or minors.
Speaking at a workshop on enhancing professionalism in criminal investigation at the Police Resource Centre in Abuja, Egbetokun expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for directing the release of those arrested.
He emphasised however: “Nobody, including any minor, was detained simply for protesting. We upheld their right to peaceful protest and provided security.”
Egbetokun clarified that those arrested were caught in criminal acts, including setting public facilities on fire, looting warehouses and shops, and destroying property.
He said: “Minors were not arrested for participating in protests. This narrative is being falsely propagated.
“The suspects were captured on video committing these crimes, including arson and large-scale looting. The police did not arrest anybody who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest. We arrested criminals who took advantage of the protest to cause destruction to public infrastructure, to destroy private businesses. Those ones cannot be regarded as protesters.
“But we arrested the criminals. So, it’s a wrong narrative. It is mischievous for anybody to push that narrative out that those 76 suspects that were arraigned in court were suspects, and were people who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
“We have said time and time that protesting is a right of citizens. But the constitution that gives you the right to protest also gives you the right to respect the rights of others. So, we don’t go against people who come out to protest.
“We even protect them. But those who come out to commit crime are the ones who had confrontation with us. So please, help us correct this impression. The suspects were not End Bad Governance protesters.
“They were criminals that were arrested during that period of protest. They were captured on video looting people’s businesses, destroying private businesses, destroying public infrastructure. And you want the police to look the other way and leave them, allow them to continue the destruction. No society will progress like that”.
