The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday said that credible intelligence at the disposal of the Nigeria Police Force, revealed that foreign mercenaries are deeply involved in the planning of the anticipated August first nationwide protest in the country.
The IGP also issued a stern warning to clandestine groups plotting to destabilize the country and hoodlums seeking to exploit protests for their criminal agendas.
Egbetokun, who made this disclosure while, addressing a press conference at the Force Headquarter in Abuja, also noted that the police will not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, destruction of public infrastructure and private property, or looting of private businesses.
He said: “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 urges all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group. While we alert citizens to the sinister motives of certain groups planning to wreak havoc, it has become clear that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed”.
Acknowledging the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protests, Egbetokun noted that in the interest of public safety and order, the police orders all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where protest is intended to take place.
He noted that to facilitate a successful and incident free protest, the protesting groups must provide some requisite information. He itemised these requisite information to include but not limited to proposed protest routes and assembling points.
Others are: “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”.
He said that by providing this information, the police will be enabled to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety, and 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, and minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity,” he said.
The police boss encouraged 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. According to him, we are committed to working with all Nigerians to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order.
Noting that the police intelligence team has been monitoring development surrounding protest threats, Egbetokun said that 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 own 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,” he concluded.
