National news

Planned protest ploy to cause mayhem – I-G

Published

5 months ago

Aug 1, 2024.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has said that intelligence available to the Nigeria Police revealed that the August 1 planned protest is targeted at unleashing mayhem in the country.

Egbetokun made this revelation in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, saying that the mayhem was targeted on the polity, innocent citizens, markets, stores, private and public properties, as well as critical infrastructure of government.

According to him, the name given to the movement behind the protest, “TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT” has far-reaching undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal connotations.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigeria Police Force had in the last few days engaged with the leadership of the movement as well as their accredited solicitors.

The police boss said the police had enjoined the protest organizers to submit to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the state of the protest, where they intend to carry out the protests.

He said the organizers had been told to provide the venue/ route of their assembly, congregation or procession; the commencement and closing time during the day and the modus operandi of the protests.

Egbetokun said the organizers were also expected to provide other information necessary to guide the police, and other members of the public, who are equally entitled to their constitutional rights of movement.

He said the required information were necessary measures to protect the organizers and those who would want to participate by the Nigeria Police.

According to him, while liaising with the commissioners of Police in the respective states, an undertaking has to be given or entered by the protest organizers.

“The organizers shall be in a position to control, guide and manage any congregation or assembly that comes up for the protest.

“The idea is to ensure that the protests are not hijacked by unscrupulous elements who may want to hide under the guise of the protest to unleash terror or perpetrate mayhem on the innocent public.

“We are also concerned particularly, that there shall be no loss of lives or destruction of property, private or public.

“Regrettably, the organisers of the proposed protest have not deemed it necessary to supply the simple and basic information required by the police,” he said.

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