Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, on Friday inaugurated a nine-member Committee for the assessment of loses suffered by the Nigeria Police Force during the ENDSARS Protests across the country.
Adamu noted during the inauguration held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja that the setting up of the Assessment Committee is informed by the need to properly document the losses suffered by the Force for the purposes of strategic planning, re-construction and re-equipment as well as for future reference.
He observed that the Force encountered huge losses in terms of human and material resources during the ENDSARS protests which commenced on a rather peaceful note but unfortunately degenerated into violence, loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.
Earlier in a statement on Friday morning, the IGP said that the 22 Policemen were killed while 205 of its stations were burnt during the aftermath of the EnSARS protests by hoodlums.
According to a statement by Force Spokesperson, Frank Mba, the Committee, which has Commissioner of Police, Avutu Yaro as chairman, was charged by the IGP to see the assignment as a call to service which must be undertaken with purposefulness, empathy, dedication and sacrifice.
The Committee’s terms of reference include:
- that the delegation should physically visit the scenes of incident and capture the pictorials of all damages done to police infrastructure and personnel;
- verify the fatalities suffered by the police; establish the weapons holdings that were lost during the incidents, amongst others.
The IGP particularly emphasized that the delegates should visit families of deceased police officers and the injured on behalf of the Force.
Mr Adamu, while appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari and all the tiers of government for their support and commitment to the holistic reforms of the Force.
He reassured the families of deceased Police officers and the injured that the Force and the nation would continually remember their losses and sacrifices.
The IGP also appreciated the professional conduct and restraints by Police personnel during the period, even in the face of imminent threats to their lives.