Nigeria

Ex-police boss says policemen have the right to kill in self-defence

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 3:16 PM by Oluwatobi Bolashodun

- Tafa Balogun has shared his thoughts on police officers killing Nigerians

- According to former Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian constitution backs officers of the force to kill in self-defence

- The ex-police boss also expressed disappointment over the killing of officers

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A retired Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tafa Balogun, on Thursday, December 17, said policemen have the constitutional right to kill in self-defence.

Vanguard reports that the former police boss made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting on community policing in Osun state.

According to Balogun, officers are only allowed to kill when in the face of danger but not unjustly, adding that it is prohibited by the law.

Ex-police boss says policemen have the right to kill in self-defence — Ex-police boss Tafa Balogun says officers have the right to kill in self-defence. Photo credit: @PoliceNG
Source: Twitter

The former IGP speaking at the local government service commission went on to express displeasure at how policemen were killed and stations burnt during the #EndSARS protest that rocked the country in October.

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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Balogun appealed to officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to return to their statutory duties after they were displaced from their stations during the #EndSARS protests.

In a statement issued on Thursday, November 12, the ex-police boss urged the officers to continue to provide the much-needed security to the country.

He also appealed to them not to mind the recent brutal attacks, arson, and acts of intimidation against the police.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have been called upon by the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, to appreciate and empathise with personnel of the police and other security agencies rather than victimise them.

Speaking during a meeting with title editors of Nigerian newspapers in Lagos, Mohammed disclosed that due to the sad events that marred the peaceful EndSARS protests, police officers are now afraid to wear their uniforms.