| President Muhammadu Buhari |
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured families of the Police Officer who lost his life in the line of duty and that of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who was fatally shot while on an assignment for Channels Television that the government will ensure that they did not lose their lives in vain. Both of them were hit by bullets from the now proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN.
The President, who spoke through a team he sent to condole with the family of late Deputy Commissioner of Police Usman A. K. Umar, said the late Police Officer had paid the highest sacrifice for the nation, an act that would never be forgotten.
President Buhari said he strongly condemned violence in the name of protests, describing it as a gross abuse of the rights of citizens of Nigeria who are free to protest within designated areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The President’s delegation, made up of his Senior Special Assistants, Sarki Abba and Garba Shehu in charge of Domestic Affairs and Media and Publicity respectively and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure, was received by the older brother of the late Officer, Commissioner of Police Usman A. Belel and the widow, Hajiya (Mrs.) Busrah Umar.
They both expressed their deep appreciation to the President for sending the delegation.
Prayers were offered for the repose of the late DCP Umar as well as for peace and stability of the country.