The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, said the pardoned minors were not EndBadGovernance protesters as reported in some sections of local and international media outlets.
Egbetokun made this clarification while fielding questions from newsmen during IG’s workshop with Heads of Police Investigative Units in Abuja.
Noting that child-friendly policing is essential to modern law enforcement practices, Egbetokun stated that every interaction with a child, whether as a victim, witness, or even an offender, must be carried out with sensitivity and professionalism.
According to him, “There were 76 of them that were taken to court. I think about four or five of them were found to be minors. I don’t know the exact number. Some of them were found to be minors.
“I don’t want to make any categorical statement on this issue again, after the intervention of Mr. President. I just want to thank Mr. President for his fatherly intervention to give those children pardon. But I want to use this opportunity to correct an impression.
“The impression that those minors were arrested for participating in the EndBadGovernance protest. That is a wrong narrative. It is not true.
“The police did not arrest anybody who participated in the EndBadGovernance protest. We arrested criminals, who took advantage of the protest to cause destruction to public infrastructure, to destroy private businesses, to commit a sin. Those ones cannot be regarded as protesters.
“The police did not arrest any protester. Police gave escort to protesters. We protected the protesters. But we arrested the criminals. So it’s a wrong narrative.
“It is mischievous for anybody to push that narrative out that those 76 suspects that were arraigned in court were people, who participated in the EndBadGovernance protest.
“We have said time and time that to protest is a right of citizens. But the constitution that gives you the right to protest also gives you the right to respect the rights of others. So, we don’t go against people who come out to protest.
“We even protect them. But those who come out to commit crime are the ones who have confrontation with us. So, please, help us correct this impression.”
Linus Aleke
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