Abeokuta – Following recent moves by some groups mobilizing for a mass protest nationwide, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure robust security arrangements are in place to prevent any breakdown of law and order including strategic deployments to protect key infrastructures and ensure that protests, if any, remain peaceful and lawful.
This is contained in a statement by the Force Public Relations officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi
The statement reiterates that the right of citizens to protest is a right to peaceful protest only.
“The Nigeria police will protect the rights of all citizens including those on peaceful protest but will not look on to see the rights of other citizens being violated.”
The statements reads further that, “No decent society anywhere in the world will tolerate violent destruction of lives and property in the name of a protest. While the NPF is committed to protecting the rights of those on peaceful protest, it will not look on to see the rights of others being violated in the name of a mass protest.”
IGP Egbetokun asked those who want to stage a peaceful protest to inform the police and request for police protection and those who do otherwise should be ready to face the full weight of the law.
Members of the public were again reminded that it is a criminal offence to tamper with the national grid or prevent/disrupt the transmission of electricity. It is equally unacceptable to cause disruption to any other critical infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, and other essential services, or violent picketing in whatever magnitude.
The Police equally appeals to parents and guardians to warn their wards not to be used by disgruntled and misguided individuals who are mobilizing for destructions with intent to create anarchy. Such individuals are advised in their own interest to shelve their unpatriotic and clandestine plans
