The End Bad Governance In Nigeria protest organisers have been instructed by Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to send the names of their organisations and other pertinent information to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
In an address to the media on Friday in Abuja, the IGP issued this directive. He said that the order was to ensure a nonviolent demonstration.
The IGP stated that he respected the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest, but he also ordered that everyone planning to participate in a protest provide their identity and protest location to ensure their safety on the day of the demonstration.
“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.”
According to the IGP, to maintain public safety, the police would be able to deploy enough manpower and resources from the information provided.
He added that to prevent clashes with other events or activities, the police needed to be aware of the precise routes and locations for the demonstrations.
Other directives by the IGP include creating open lines of communication with protest organisers to resolve any issues or concerns that may come up and reduce the likelihood of violence, property destruction, or other criminal conduct.
He called upon all demonstrators to cooperate with law enforcement, adhere to international standards for nonviolent assembly, and respect the law to guarantee a secure and efficient exercise of their rights.
Egbetokun told journalists that intelligence at the disposal of the Force revealed that foreign mercenaries were involved in the proposed nationwide hunger protest.
He urged every Nigerian to proceed with caution and reconsider their decision to join the protest. The IGP said the Force had been monitoring development surrounding the 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 police boss stated.
