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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun has clearly sound a note of warning to hoodlums who might want to take laws into their hands in the name of protests, to have a rethink as the Nigeria Police Force will not fold its arms and allow the country to be set on fire, as he advised Nigerian youths to avoid being used and lured to unwittingly do the biddings of those who are promoting selfish and inordinate ambition.
IGP Egbetokun gave this warning while meeting with Strategic Police Managers on Tuesday in Abuja, noting that police duty is to protect lives and property of citizens and this they will do in the most professional manner.
it would be recall that hardship protest has gained some momentum – particularly on the social media in the past few weeks, as some Nigerians are calling for protest to show their plight for a change in the economy.
Speaking further, the IGP revealed that some groups of people, self-appointed ‘crusaders and influencers’ have been strategizing and mobilizing potential protesters to unleash terror in the land under the guise of replicating the recent ‘Kenyan protest debacle’.
"Whilst the Force acknowledges right to peaceful protest as enshrined in our constitution, we must ensure that these protests do not snowball into violence or disorder.
"As a nation, we have had more than our fair share of violent protests with rather dastardly consequences. The last #EndSars protest led to wanton destruction of public assets, including police stations, courts, transport infrastructure and loss of several lives.
"Tales of sorrow, tears and blood followed what was supposedly intended to be a well-intentioned exercise. Rather than to lead to any positive outcome, #Endsars merely aggravated crime rates and insecurity in several parts of the country. Indeed, we are yet to fully recover from the huge economic losses and deep seated psychological and emotional trauma inflicted upon our people by those protests.
"Hence, our position is that the proposed violent protests are ill-advised and should be jettisoned forthwith. We have the responsibility to protect properties and everyone, irrespective of their race, colour, ethnic, or tribe, who are lawfully embarking on their daily activities.
"We will, therefore, not sit back and fold our arms to watch violent extremists unleash violence on our peaceful communities, and/or destroy any of our national critical infrastructures and assets again. We have mapped out plans to ensure that no individual or group succeeds in fostering a reign of terror and or anarchy on other law abiding and peace-loving Nigerians."
IGP Egbetokun however reassured that the NPF under his leadership will continue to protect the rights of citizens to peaceful protests as they have done in previous protests.