Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a call for all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide hunger protests to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective States Command.
The police chief also revealed that intelligence gathered by the force indicates that foreign mercenaries may be involved in the planned protest.
To ensure that the protest remains peaceful, he provided several guidelines for protest organisers, including sharing the protest route and duration, as well as contact details of protest leaders.
“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,“ he told journalists at a press briefing on Friday.
Egbetokun continued;
“Measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers. By providing this information, the police will be enabled to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.
“Designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities. 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 protestors 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.”
The IGP stated that while some groups are advocating for peaceful protests, others are pushing for violent demonstrations, potentially manipulated by enemies of Nigeria. This has led some patriotic citizens to withdraw from the planned protests, concerned that the motives of those calling for violence are not genuine.
He urged citizens to exercise caution and carefully consider the consequences before participating in any protest group.
“We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence.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 said.