The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, revealed yesterday that intelligence reports indicated the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the nationwide protests scheduled for August 1.
Briefing reporters in Abuja, the IGP urged all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group.
His admonition came amid growing public rejection of the proposed mass protest with states, civil society organisations, religious bodies, traditional rulers, youth groups and even organisers distancing themselves from it.
The IGP posited that any protest, peaceful or otherwise, is not needed at this time.
He said: “We have been monitoring development surrounding protest threats.
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“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.
“We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence.
“We note those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, fearing enemies of our country may be manipulating the process.
“We confirm their fears are genuine as we have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest.
“The Nigeria police urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group.”
In a bid to ensure the protest was peaceful, Egbetokun urged all groups planning to participate in it to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
Egbetokun said: “We acknowledge the constitutional right 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.
“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information:
- We want to know the proposed protest routes and assembly points.
- Expected duration of the protest.
- Names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers.
- Measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers. By providing this information, the police will be enabled to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.
- Designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
- Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise.
- Minimise 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.”
He urged the protesters to cooperate with policemen, adding that the police would be available to protect them.