The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the proposed nationwide hunger protest, setting forth specific conditions to ensure the demonstrations remain peaceful and orderly. During a press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, Egbetokun urged all groups planning the protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective state commands.
Egbetokun revealed that intelligence at the disposal of the Force has indicated the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the planned protest. He emphasized the need for organizers to cooperate with law enforcement to prevent any potential security breaches.
“We acknowledge the constitutional rights 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,” Egbetokun stated.
To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, organizers are required to provide the following information:
Proposed protest routes and assembly points
Expected duration of the protest
Names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers
The IGP also highlighted the importance of measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements and the need for key identifiers to isolate potential troublemakers. This information will help the police to identify and manage any threats that could arise during the protest.
Egbetokun reassured the public of the police’s commitment to deploying adequate personnel and resources to ensure safety. He stressed the importance of knowing specific protest routes and areas to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
Additional guidelines for protesters include:
Establishing clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues
Minimizing the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activities
“We encourage all protesters 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 added.
This move by the IGP aims to balance the constitutional rights of citizens to protest with the need to maintain public safety and order. The police authorities remain vigilant and prepared to ensure that the nationwide hunger protest proceeds without incident.
