The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, said that intelligence at the disposal of the Force has revealed that foreign mercenaries are involved in the proposed nationwide protest.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Egbetokun urged all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group.
Egbetokun said, “We have been monitoring development surrounding 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. We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence.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 Nigerian police urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group.”
Egbetokun urged all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
He said this was to ensure the protest was peaceful.
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.”
Egbetokun noted that the organisers are expected to state their proposed routes, and assembly points among others.
He said, “The proposed protest routes and assembly points. 2. Expected duration of the protest. 3. Names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.
“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. 5. 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. 7. Minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity. We encourage all protestors 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 reminded the protesters that #ENDSARS protest led to violent crimes in the country.
Egbetokun stated, “And we know from this experience that violent protest doesn’t yield anything positive. What follows violent protest has always been a violent crime. After the ENDSARS protest, police stations were burnt down, public infrastructures were destroyed to the tune of trillions of naira, private businesses were looted, valued in trillions of Naira, and several jobs were lost in thousands.
“The masses that we are fighting for, and we are burning down the facilities that are meant to serve them. That was our experience in ENDSARS. We have enough experience to learn from.”
Egbetokun revealed that the police have learned from the events of the EndSARS protest and have implemented measures to prevent a recurrence.
He added, “We have learnt our lessons from violent protests. And that is why we are taking all these measures we are taking. We accept, we agree, nobody is contesting it, that citizens have rights to peaceful assembly, and rights to protest.
“But the right to protest is a right to peaceful protest. Today, you see on social media, people calling for violence. We have to be very careful.
“We have to be very careful not to be misled into destroying our own country. This country belongs to all of us. This is our country.
“We must be thinking of how to build our country and not how to destroy it. Violent protests are going to leave us worse off. And that is why many Nigerians, law-abiding Nigerians coming out to speak against violent protest.”
Egbetokun noted that all necessary measures have been taken to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the event of a protest.
He urged the protesters to cooperate with policemen, adding that the police would be available to protect them.
The IGP said, “We have done everything we need to do. We have put measures in place to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in case there is going to be any protest.
“And I just gave the guidelines that protest groups, groups who intend to protest, there are guidelines for them to follow. Once they follow this guideline, we are going to have it peaceful. So my appeal to Nigerians is to remain law-abiding.
“Those who insist that they must come out to protest, please cooperate with the police. The police will be there with you and protect you.”
Egbetokun noted that the best for the country was not to have any protests as the timing was not appropriate.
He noted that any protest at this point would take the nation backwards.
Egbetokun said,” This is not the best time to say you want to stage a protest, whether peaceful or violent. This is not the best time to stage protests. It will only set us back if we engage in it.
“It’s just going to set us back, and that’s not what we need now. We don’t want to destroy our fragile economy.
“It’s not good for any one of us. People who are struggling to make ends meet, then you want to come and disturb them again. What’s going to happen to them? There are people that if they don’t work in a day, there is no food for them that day.”
