November 11, (THEWILL) – The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has again justified the arrest of minors during the #EndBadGovernance Protest in August, saying the detained protesters were criminal elements engaged in arson, destruction of property, and looting of shops and public facilities.
Speaking at a workshop on enhancing professionalism in criminal investigation, held at the Police Resource Centre in Abuja, the IGP insisted that the minors were not arrested for participating in the protest but for criminal acts, including setting public facilities on fire, looting warehouses and shops, and destroying property.
“Nobody, including any minor, was detained simply for protesting. We upheld their right to peaceful protest and provided security. 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”, he said.
THEWILL reported that President Bola Tinubu, last week, directed the immediate release of all minors. They were released along with other protesters last Tuesday, following the withdrawal of the charges against them by the Federal Government.
Egbetokun expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for directing the release of the minors.
The IGP also said that police officers caught escorting 100 foreigners, including Chinese and Malaysian nationals, who were detained for alleged cybercrime activities in Abuja, were not formally deployed for such duties.
“These officers have been taken into custody and will face legal consequences”, he said, warning that any police officer found compromising an investigation would face strict disciplinary action.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
