ABUJA: The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has bowed to pressure on Monday and directed police top officers to ensure the protect intending participants of the planned #EndBadGovernance protest slated for August 1 to 10, 2024.
The IGP had last week requested the names and details of intending participants of the forthcoming protest as a condition to protect demonstrators but many Nigerians immediately rejected such a condition.
Despite the contrary, the police added that receiving such information is standard procedure to safeguard the security of all and prevent any illegal activity.
But the IGP instructed police commanders to provide protection for planned protesters around the country in a letter issued on Monday to human rights attorney Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adegboruwa had written the IGP on July 26, 2024, demanding police coverage for demonstrations.
One of the groups that were organizing the August #EndBadGovernance demonstration, The take it back had the senior lawyer write the IGP on their behalf.
In a response letter dated 29th July and signed by the Commissioner of police Johnson Ademola. The Inspector General of police have directed senior police officers to proceed with the senior lawyer’s request.
The purpose of “to deliberate further” on his request, the IGP also requested to meet with Adegboruwa in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
I am informing you that the Inspector General of Police has instructed the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands across the nation, the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence) to take care of your request.
I am also writing to notify you that the Inspector General of Police would like to meet with you on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, to discuss your request in further detail,”CP Ademola stated.
The police, military and the Department of State Service had warned against Kenya-styled protest. Politicians, who surmised that the planned rally might end up like the EndSARS demonstration of October 2020, continue to appeal to youths to shelve the planned rallies but the young people remain unfazed, doggedly insisting that the protest will hold.
The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital in August.
Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.
Cooperate with the police;
In a follow-up statement, the IGP urged youths to “cooperate with the police” to ensure peaceful and orderly protest in August.
The IGP reaffirmed the commitment of the police to protect the rights of citizens while maintaining law and order.
“There are enough lessons to learn from previous violent protests in Nigeria,” the IGP said, according to a statement by Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi.
The IGP acknowledged the right to protest, stating, “The right to protest is a right to peaceful protest.”
He called on all Nigerians to exercise this right responsibly and to avoid actions that could escalate into violence.
The IG emphasized, that peaceful protest are a powerful tool for expressing grievances and driving change without endangering lives and properties.
