…Asks protesters to submit names, addresses to Police
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said the Police have “credible intelligence” that foreign mercenaries are involved in the planned nationwide protest.
Egbetokun raised the alarm in Abuja yesterday, at a press conference, urged all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group.
He said, “We have been monitoring development surrounding protest threats. While some groups call for violent protests, emulating Kenya’s recent events, others advocate for peaceful demonstrations.
“However, some individuals promote peaceful protests with violent undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity. We have our history of violent protests in Nigeria, and I don’t believe we have to look to other countries to note the dangers of unchecked demonstrations.
The IGP commended the patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence.
“We note those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, fearing enemies of our country may be manipulating the process. We confirm their fears are genuine, as we have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest”.
“The Nigerian Police urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group”, he stressed.
The IGP however, urged all groups planning to participate in the proposed protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective States.
While addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the IGP said this was to ensure the protest was peaceful.
Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the Constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest. However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.
“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information: state the proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; and names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers”.
The IGP added that the information expected from the organisers also include measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, as well as key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers, saying by providing the information, the Police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.
According to him, the Police needed to know the specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
Other guidelines, as issued by Egbetokun, are, “Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise; minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.
“We encourage all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights”.
