The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, Mbu Joseph Mbu, insisted yesterday that any attack on policemen during the forthcoming elections will be repelled.

Mbu was reacting to recent media reports where he was quoted as saying that for any policeman killed, 20 civilians would pay for it and other controversies his statement generated.

In a statement released by the Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olugbemiga Adeoye, and signed by Mbu, the AIG said he never ordered that innocent civilians be killed.

“The AIG did not order policemen to kill or shoot innocent civilians if any policeman is killed as is being stated by some of these publications, which no doubt have political undertones.

“The AIG is a firm believer in the rule of law, which he signed to uphold. He only reminded his men not to be cowardly but be guided by Force Order 237 with the use of firearms.

“This means not only to defend themselves but others in the society including fellow police officers when their lives are in danger,” the statement said.

Mbu argued that if the police are being lectured continually to respect the rights of the citizenry and punished for any infraction of such, the right to life of the police should equally be respected.

“There is no society where policemen are killed by hoodlums and the perpetrators would be allowed to escape justice.

“On the issue of the alleged arrest of governors at the polling units credited to the AIG, the command confirms that the AIG was clearly and deliberately misquoted.

“What he said was that no highly placed individual in the society, who has police escorts and other forms of personal guards, would be allowed within the voting area accompanied by such retinue of escorts.

“Of course, it is an electoral offence for anyone to campaign on election day and at polling units. From all indications, only those who are planning to disrupt or rig elections have to be afraid of police actions within the confines of the law.

“The AIG is only a police officer. He is among the thousands who would be deployed to ensure credible and violence-free elections.

“It is also imperative to note that Mbu was posted to Zone 2 command as part of routine police posting by the Inspector General of Police and not primarily for general elections to be used by anyone to manipulate the elections as is being suggested by some detractors.

“The command therefore wishes to assure members of the public that no publication, no matter how offensive, will intimidate or make the AIG lose focus of his statutory duties.

“The AIG has reiterated that any group of lawless people who attack the Nigeria Policemen under the zone would be repelled.”