By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja 

The Eminent Persons Peace and Security Forum in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has commended the Nigeria Police for its handling of the crisis that stemmed from the #ENDSARS protests.

The group, that addressed reporters in Abuja, said the police handled the situation with poise, calmness, maturity and civility such that inter-ethnic violence was averted.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Barr Lawrence Alobi, a former Commissioner of Police in the FCT and Amb Dr Paddy Njoku, they also commended the youths for making a bold statement by demonstrating peacefully and by placing their well-articulated demands at the doorstep of the government,

The Forum, made up eminent personalities, decried the intrusion by armed civil anti-protest marauders who came to chase the youth protesters away from the streets and unleash unexpected mayhem.

They expressed their condolences to families of Nigerians who lost their dear members in the unfortunate #ENDSARS nationwide protests.

“We felicitate with our youths for daring to come out in unison from their discomfort zone to make a bold statement by demonstrating peacefully for days on the streets of Abuja and other parts of the country and by placing their well-articulated demands at the doorstep of the government, which the Federal Government has already accepted.

“We most heartily commend the Nigerian Police for handling the protesters with so much professional understanding and civility during the peaceful protests.

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“We decry the intrusion by armed civil anti-protest marauders who came to chase the youth protesters away from the streets by unleashing unexpected mayhem on them and embarassing the police in the discharge of its function of maintenance of law and order.

“It is most unfortunate that the foregoing confusion now attracted the participation of rather violent looters and vandals who forcibly destroyed or made away with government properties in different states of the Federation, having over awed the Police, and leading to the loss of many Nigerian lives including those officers and men of the Nigerian Police.

“Emboldened by their success in the theft and vandalization exercise, they then extended their action to private properties and business infrastructure thereby creating an unruly atmosphere, and even inter-ethnic disaffection in order to divert attention as to the intention and origin of the perpetrators.

“Equally worthy of mention is that in all these, the Federal Capital Territory situation was managed by the police authorities with so much poise, calmness, maturity and civility that the inter-ethnic violence fire was not allowed to catch on, as the instigators expected.

“We must commened the Hon Minister of the FCT, the FCT traditional rulers, the Inspector-General of Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police and their officers and men for being constantly disposed to advice and open discussions with the FCT Eminent Persons Peace and Security Forum, to ensure that the Abuja #ENDSARS protests never really got out of control.

“By the same token, we state categorically that as we struggle for the peace and security of every single Nigerian citizen, we must remember that the police officers and men are equally sons, daughters and heads of Nigerian families. They too are entitled to the right to live their lives and carry out their professional duties without threat or intimidation.

“We unequivocally condemn the alleged killing of innocent unarmed Nigerian protesting citizens at Lekki in Lagos, more so, as they were said to be armed with the Nigerian national flag which they were said to be waving at their assailants while singing the national anthem at the time of the incident. Those who shot at our innocent country men and our national flag, and silenced our national anthem, should be made to face the law.

“We equally advise the Inspector-General of Police to continue with his confidence building programme of visiting police formations and to invest more time and resources in a well thought out comprehensive reform of capacity building and ethical values reorientation of the Nigerian Police.

“We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do all in his power to update and upgrade the Nigeria Police Force by improving their manpower, financing, equipment, welfare and training capacity in accordance with international standards, and best practices.

“We pledge to work with the security agencies to ensure that the FCT, being the host of all the embassies and international organisations in Nigeria, and home to Nigerians from the 36 states of the Federation as well as the seat of the FG, remains stable, peaceful and secure in order to fulfil its numerous functions as a multinational metropolis.

“We must not fail to express our profound gratitude to dynamic Nigerian press for the role they have been playing in public sensitisation, while calling on them to temper their zeal with wisdom in order to ensure that peace, security and stability reign in the nation,” the Forum said.