The Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, has asserted that foreign mercenaries are involved in the August 1 protest.
Egbetokun said this information during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, stating that reliable sources informed the police.
In recent days, there have been reports of a planned nationwide protest led by Nigerian youths over the country’s economic difficulties.
The organisers, yet to be identified, have scheduled it to start on August 1.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal and state governments have urged the youths to call it off. Religious and traditional authorities have also made pleas for the demonstration to be cancelled.
Furthermore, the military and the Department of State Services, DSS, have stated that there are signs that the protest could be taken over to carry out violent acts.
The IGP cautioned the timing for holding a peaceful demonstration in the country may not be appropriate.
“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 that their fears are genuine, as we have credible intelligence of foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest.
“The Nigeria Police urge Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group while we alert citizens to the sinister motive of certain groups planning to wreak havoc.
“It has become clear that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed.
“We issue a strong warning to clandestine groups planning to destabilise the country and hoodlums seeking to exploit the protest for their criminal agenda,” he said.
According to him, the police acknowledged Nigerians’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and added that they would provide security during the demonstration.