Kelvin Bowoto
Ahead of the Nigeria Labour Congress‘s (NLC’s) intended statewide two-day protest, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has committed to protecting all protestors while urging impostors not to hijack the demonstration.
Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that all Commissioners of Police and their respective supervising officers have been informed and directed to coordinate the police on the ground to ensure the safety and security of all protestors.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, has also advised all participants in the planned protest to behave themselves calmly and responsibly, adhering to the values of nonviolence and respect for others’ rights.
According to the Force PRO, ACP Olumuyi Olujobi, the NPF “hereby affirms the fundamental right of all citizens of the country to engage in peaceful protest in accordance with existing laws.” As a result, the NPF reiterates its commitment to protecting demonstrators’ rights and freedoms.
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“In accordance with its legal obligation to preserve law and order, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed personnel statewide and placed them on red alert to monitor the scheduled protest. All police commissioners and their respective supervising officers have been briefed and directed to coordinate the officers on the ground to ensure the safety and security of all participants if the protests go as scheduled.
“While acknowledging the value of peaceful protest, the Nigeria Police Force remains watchful against any attempts to hijack such protests by individuals or groups of people with malicious intent. Emphatically, the force is fully prepared to respond quickly and firmly to any unlawful activity or acts of violence that may endanger peace, public safety, and security.
“It is critical to state that the Police has spread its tentacles nationwide to curb any attempt by some individuals who might want to leverage the nationwide protests to create brouhaha, and such will be met with an approved legal and proportional force, as the Police will not allow wanton breakdown of law and order, loss of lives and property like we had experienced, in some instances, in the past, in any part of the country.”
Meanwhile, the IGP urged the organizers to work with the police and other relevant security agencies to keep their protests peaceful and orderly, even as the NPF works tirelessly to ensure that protests are held in a safe environment conducive to the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
