Police/naval clash-Nobody has monopoly of violence-CP Lagos

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Prince Umar Manko, today
declared that the naval ratings who attacked some policemen at the
Wharf Apapa area of Lagos on Friday, damaging Armoured Personnel
Carriers (APC), should not think that they alone have monopoly of
violence.
Speaking with journalists at the police command headquarters, Manko
explained that if not that he checked and bridled them, the situation
would have become bloody.
He however cautioned some sister forces who were quick to attack and
open fire on policemen carrying out their legal duties, that policemen
not shooting back at their  attackers, should not be misconstrued as a
sign of weakness.
On Friday, naval ratings emptied their armoury and attacked policemen
at Trebor Junction, because one of their colleagues’ motorbikes was
impounded by an Environmental Task Force Team, headed by Supol Ajani.
The attack culminated in the destruction of police APC by the
rampaging naval personnel and chasing of policemen into area B
command.
Manko said: “Lagos State has a law. Police have the full mandate to
enforce those laws. A naval man rode on areas restricted from
motorbike. Angry, he went and regrouped and they returned to attack
policemen!
“Nobody is above the law in Lagos State. Everybody should endeavour to
see that the laws of the state are adhered to and the purposes of
those laws achieved. Police will continue to enforce the law until its
desired demand is achieved!
“I took charge of my men to make sure they did not fire a single
bullet on that day. Nobody has monopoly of violence. We also have
armouries. Police could have retaliated but police are the most
visible government security agency on ground. This however does not
mean police are weak. It means police are showing maturity!”