Police Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said his statement warning citizens not to take revenge on an erring police officer was misrepresented in the media.
In a statement, Adejobi explained that his tweet was taken out of context by mischief-mongers as he was only advising citizens to go through the proper channels to report misconduct by a police officer.
However, Adejobi has stressed that the police are committed to protecting the rights of citizens, whether in uniform or not, and urged the public to ignore malicious publications saying otherwise.
“When an officer violates applicable laws, there are channels to report such behavior and seek prompt justice, particularly with the Nigerian Police.
In the present case, the individuals resorted to self-help and assaulted the officers, attempting to snatch the firearm from the officers, in violation of the law,” the statement said.
“It is banal that two mistakes cannot make a right as the actions of the persons were wrong in all implications regardless of the provocation as they would have reported the matter for immediate action.
The emphasis on this has clearly been misrepresented across all media platforms, as a single tweet in one thread was mischievously taken out of context with a mischievous caption: “No Nigerian has the right to retaliate if the police beat you.”
He urged the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands when they find themselves in an awkward situation with a police officer and pointed out the legal channels through which complaints can be made to protect their rights.
“The force urges the Nigerian people not to take the law into their hands when they have awkward encounters with police officers.
Complaints arising from such encounters can be reported through the Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) of the various commands, the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) and through official police accounts on social media platforms.
Likewise, the idea of pouncing on and beating up law enforcement officers who are performing their public duties by members of the public they serve is criminal and disrespectful to our beloved nation of Nigeria and must not be allowed to escalate,” Adejobi said.
Within Nigeria
