Why policemen must be fully armed during protests – PSC

Punch

By Noah Banjo

The Police Service Commission has stated the reason for Nigerian police officers to be armed during protests.

The Punch had earlier reported that the German Government, through a high powered delegation, had offered to train officers of the Nigeria Police Force in protest management without the use of lethal weapons.

On Chairman of the PSC, former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliu Smith, was quoted to have said that German and Nigerian societies are different.

Buttressing his point, the spokesperson of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, told our correspondent that the situation in Nigerian can turn violent.

He added that some people could carry guns while protesting, which could hamper the safety of the police and other people.

He said, “When there are demonstrations abroad, the people just demonstrate. But here, people demonstrate carrying guns.

“So if policemen are going to handle demonstrators in Nigeria, they won’t just come with batons, because they could be killed.

“But abroad they don’t carry anything, they just come out and demonstrate to show the world that they are not happy with what they are doing. It is not like that here in Nigeria.

“Police officers that are going to quell demonstrations in…