Press "Enter" to skip to content

Five times the Nigerian Police is allowed to open fire
Where is Gov. Umahi’s shooting order coming from?

Governor David Umahi did not take lightly an interruption of his convoy on Friday last week. His controversial outburst included a ban on late Wake and an order to shoot at those who block his convoy. He calls it legal and a Police document detailing rules of engagement for Police officers can only arguably differ with him.

Relating the incidence on Saturday at the Executive Council Chambers, the Ebonyi State Governor expressed his concerns and dissatisfaction over the interruption of his convoy. He described the occurrence as a breach in criminal law.

Reports had it that Umahi’s convoy was blocked along Onicha road in the State. He was coming from Abakiliki when he ran into a roadblock created by a group of persons observing a Wake for a burial ceremony in the area. According to him, they refused to allow him to continue his journey despite the presence of security details with him. The persons allegedly disarmed a soldier and ran away with his gun.

He lamented what would have transpired if an ordinary citizen was involved.

“My problem is not that they blocked the Governor but my worry is supposing it was a smaller person that was passing, who had no army or police, they would have robbed the person. That’s what it means. It is against the law to block the Governor, and if anyone should be killed in the process, it is in accordance with the law.”

He ordered that no Wake in the State should exceed 10 pm. Any exception to this would mean obtaining written permission from the Local Government Chairman. The person making the request would be held accountable if anything goes wrong at the ceremony. He tasked security operatives to identify and bring the persons involved in the incident for prosecution and possible imprisonment.

Also, to stop future occurrence, the Governor was reported to have said such persons should be shot.

“Next time, the ADC should order for a shoot. It is very illegal to block the Governor. And if anybody is killed in the course of that, it is allowed in the law.” Premium Times quotes him as saying.

For security operatives, the rule of engagement spells out conditions and manner in which force can be applied.  The Nigeria Police Force Order No 237, which was recently rewritten to make for clarity and protection of civilians, gives clear rules of guidance for the use of firearms by police officials.

There are about five instances when a Police officer is allowed to use his firearm. The first is when he is attacked and his life is in danger and there is no other way of saving his life. In this case, the officer has to be able to prove that his life was indeed in danger or that he was at risk of receiving injury that will put his life in danger.

The second time a Police officer can use his firearm is when defending a person who is attacked and he believes, on reasonable grounds, that he cannot otherwise protect the person being attacked from death.

The document gives the third reason as when it becomes necessary to disperse a riot or prevent rioters from committing serious offenses against life and property. Then it goes ahead to say the rioters must be at least 12 persons and they must have continued rioting for a reasonable time after a proclamation is read to them. It directs the Police to shoot at the leg of the leader of the riot but forbid it from ever shooting warning shots over the head of rioters.

Policemen may also fire at a person in custody who tries to escape if the officer cannot arrest the person through other means. They may also fire at a person who is trying to escape arrest but on the condition that such a person was to be arrested for a crime that if convicted attracts death or imprisonment for more than 7 years.

Order 237 is however emphatic that it does not override any law. It says, in the final analysis, it is up to a Court to determine if an Officer misused firearm or if his action was reasonable.

Although not in this case, convoy interruption or blockage is a trend often resulted to by enraged persons to get the attention of a public figure, especially during protests. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had his own share of this treatment in May. His convoy was blocked by enraged youths of Gbagyi village, Abuja. They were protesting against the alleged seizure of their community land by the Nigerian Army. Osinbajo bumped into them at Goza village on his way to the Airport. After failed attempts by security agents to calm the protesters, Osinbajo had to intervene by alighting from the vehicle. He listened to the protesters and promised to device a solution to the problem.

Not all convoy interruptions could be as peaceful as Osinbajo’s experience. In September, the convoy of the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi was blocked by protesting students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). She was on a tour in the area when the protesters, which she later claimed included criminals, destroyed vehicles in her convoy.

Some persons, including journalists in her convoy and other road users, were attacked. There were also reports that security aides of the first lady opened fire on the protesters. This resulted in the death of two FUOYE students.

Attack on the convoy of the then Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, which was recorded in February, was said to be life-threatening. This attack was suspected to have been carried out by insurgents. About four to ten persons, including two soldiers, did not survive the attack. Survivals included the present Governor of the State.

Governor Umahi appears to have very little tolerance for people he considers mischief-makers. In February, he instructed security agencies to shoot persons guilty of disturbing the state with illegal firearms. This was made in response to constant attacks in some parts of the State. In this instance, the Governor did not differentiate shooting from killing as did the Police rules of engagement. He ordered shooting at sight and did not give conditions which the rules of engagement gave including that such shot should be taken only when the suspect is on the run or the Policeman feared for his life and well being or the life or well being of others.

“I am the Chief Security Officer of Ebonyi State. I want to order security agencies to shoot at sight any person bearing illegal firearms which he is using to attack Ebonyi State…” Umahi said.

Facebook Comments
ETN24 - Explaining the News is about putting News in the correct context to promote understanding and education. We believe News should educate, not agitate. Our dedication is to fighting Fake and Sensational News, as well as to keep an eye on the media to ensure our peace and sanity are not sold for traffic.