The Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has backed the shooting of an unarmed Nigerian in a recent tweet.
On Thursday, 6 July, a Twitter user, Ehisrael, narrated how two policemen chasing a guy near a University shot in the direction where the boy was running. He said, “I was baffled”, and wondered “why shoot at an unarmed man?”
@Ehisrael2 posted, “I was eating at a restaurant close to a university today. Suddenly saw two policemen chasing a guy; the said guy was running furiously. One of the policemen shot in the direction where the boy was running. Omo. I was baffled. But why shoot at an unarmed man?
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Responding, CSP Adejobi said, “You can shoot at an unarmed man if he is a fleeing suspect, who has committed a felony, or inmate who escaped from lawful custody, or he had committed a felonious offence, which upon conviction, he would be sentenced to death or life imprisonment, etc.”
“So, it depends on the circumstances, which you can’t explain for now. There are rules and laws guiding the use of firearms.
The tweet has elicited criticism from Nigerians who said the CSP’s post is why many unarmed Nigerians are shot in Nigeria without prosecution.
A Twitter user Ozmond said, “No o..in public where there are bystanders? I no gree for this one..only when the runner is with a weapon that’s when you try to organise and chase to an area where there are no bystanders..una suppose to dey rehearse/train on these things na.”
@fataikolade1 posted, “Thanks for the enlightenment. Very good to have let us know what can make police officers shoot unarmed person. My question now is, what will now happen to the happy trigger officer if that unarmed man later found out not to fall any of the above-mentioned offences? Can we know, pls?
In October 2020, Nigerians took to the street nationwide to protest the incessant killing of Nigerians by the SARS unit.
This led to international criticism as the protesters demanded the disbandment of the SARS officers.
Rather than address the motive of the protest, the Nigerian government sent armed soldiers who shot and killed many of the protesters. Though the government denied involvement and killings, some parents still mourn silently for fear of further attacks.
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