As Nigeria commemorates “Democracy Day,” Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has issued a warning against violent protests.
According to Egbetokun, recent actions by some groups organising nationwide large-scale protests made the warning imperative.
“The right of citizens to protests is a right to peaceful protest only,” he reiterated.
According to the IGP, everyone’s rights, even those participating in nonviolent protests, would be upheld by the police. However, he went on to say that the Force will not permit demonstrators to infringe upon the rights of other people.
In a statement, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, stated that “violently destroying lives and property in the name of protest is unacceptable in any decent society in the world.”
“The NPF will not stand by and watch as the rights of others are infringed upon in the name of a mass protest, even though it is dedicated to defending the rights of those engaged in peaceful protest.”
According to the statement, anybody wishing to hold a nonviolent protest are encouraged to notify the authorities and ask for police protection.
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“Those who act in a different manner ought to be prepared to bear the full force of the law. The general public is once more reminded that tampering with the national grid or preventing or disrupting the transfer of power is illegal.
“Violent picketing of any size is similarly prohibited, as is causing interruption to any other vital infrastructure, including hospitals, airlines, and other necessary services.
“The Nigeria Police Force warns that any attempt to disrupt critical infrastructure, which could lead to an act of economic sabotage, treasonable felony, and jeopardise national security and public safety, will not be condoned during any protest action and will be met with the full force of the law.” The Nigeria Police Force is a civil and responsive institution that is committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.
According to Adejobi, the IGP has instructed all State Command Commissioners of Police and Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police to work with other security agencies to make sure that strong security measures are in place in order to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
