…… Says police act in accordance with the law
The Integrity Youth Alliance, an alliance of over 32 youth organisations across Nigeria, has condemned the planned protest and threat to the nation’s security by the so-called Coalition of Youth, Student, and Civil Society Stakeholders.
Reacting to the so-called stakeholders’ press statement on Saturday, the General Secretary of the Alliance, Danjuma Lamido, said that the Nigeria Police, in carrying out its constitutional power of apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property, and the due enforcement of laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, invited the Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria to answer a petition written against him.
“From our investigations, the Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria refused to honour several invitations extended to him to clear his name, hence the arrest on Friday, 25th October 2024, in a peaceful operation, Danjuma Lamido said.
“We are very sure that the so-called Coalition of Youth, Student, and Civil Society Stakeholders addressed the media blindly because the Nigeria Police, under the management of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, will never breach the fundamental rights of any residents of Nigeria, as the police are central to the protection and implementation of international human rights norms in Nigeria.
“This is due to the strategic importance of their role in society, which includes protecting life and property, preventing and detecting crime, and apprehending and prosecuting offenders (Police Act, 2020, s. 4).
“The IGP, as a PhD holder in Conflict Management and Peace Studies, has managed the Nigeria Police and its personnel well, as can be seen during the previous protest across the country, with personnel well behaved despite unwarranted aggression from the protesters that could have provoked reprisal actions that may lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“The Nigeria police should be allowed to carry out their constitutional duties, as no amount of threat in the name of protest will make the police deviate from its duties of preventing and investigating crimes of varying nature, including but not limited to, theft, assault, fraud, and homicide, Danjuma said.
“The Nigeria Police Force plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and ensuring the safety and security of the Nigerian populace; therefore, the threat of the Coalition of Youth, Student, and Civil Society Stakeholders to occupy both the Force Headquarters and the National Assembly on Monday is uncalled for, the statement concluded.
