The Police Service Commission (PSC) says contrary to media reports, it has no plans to dismiss any police officer who fails to return to work after the #ENDSARS protests which turned violent following the hijack of the otherwise peaceful protests by hoodlums, leading to wanton looting as well as the destruction of lives and properties across the nation last week.
Recall that near breakdown of law and order in some parts of the country last week led to the gruesome murder of 22 policemen with 26 others critically injured while a total of 205 police stations and formations were also attacked and razed by hoodlums who hijacked the protests.
Many police officers across the country, fearing their lives and those of their families and loved ones, stayed away from their duty posts to avoid becoming easy targets for the hoodlums.
In a press release signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations for PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission denied the report in another daily newspaper (Saturday Punch) but stated that it can only plead with police officers to return to work in the spirit of nationalism.
The statement read in full: “The attention of the Police Service Commission (PSC) had been drawn to a publication in the Punch newspaper of Saturday October 31 2020 reporting that the Police Service Commission will dismiss Police officers who fail to return to work.
“The Police Service Commission wishes to state that it did not any time say Police men who refused to get back to work will be dismissed.
“The Commission had condemned the killing of Police officers on legitimate duties and had warned that any attempt to make the country lawless will be an illwind that will blow no body any good.
“The Commission can only plead with the officers to in the spirit of nationalism return to work while Government works out enough protective programmes for them.
“The Commission will continue to do its best to ensure the police are motivated to do its job.
“The Commission being the employers of the Police is pained that Policemen were killed and stations set ablaze throughout the country.
“It will be very insensitive at this point for anyone to say that the Commission will dismiss any policeman who didn’t return to work.
“The Commission is even at present mourning the deaths of its gallant officers who were killed in the crisis.”
