3 months ago
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.Places Police officers on red alert
.Stop mobilising youths to disrupt rallies, Falana tells govt officials
BY ANDREW OROLUA
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, on Thursday, insisted that protests in some major cities on Thursday showed that what was being instigated was mass uprising and looting, not protest.
He said some groups were mobilising youths for violent protests with intent to create anarchy in the country.
“Those who were in the forefront of promoting the idea of the protest were not around to lead it. Hoodlums have been let loose on innocent Nigerians and their hard-earned businesses and property looted and destroyed,” he stated.
IGP Egbetokun stated these while reviewing the first day of the hunger Protest that is calling for an end to bad governance in Nigeria,
He said that “Nigeria police has been placed under red alert “and that “the Police is equipped to respond appropriately to the unfolding situation and will get assistance from other security agencies, including the military if the need arises.”
The IGP address reads as follows:
Fellow Nigerians and Compatriots,
“It is with grave sense of responsibility that I address you this evening. You will recall that upon several indications by various groups of their intent to commence a nationwide protest on 1st August, 2024, we rolled out several warnings based on actionable intelligence at our disposal indicating that some groups were mobilizing our youths for violent protests with intent to create anarchy in the country.
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“While some groups claiming to be mobilizing for peaceful protests were doing so with violent undertones refusing to cooperate with the Police on measures to be taken to guarantee peaceful protest.
“On the basis of these intelligence, the Police advised that the protests should be shelved at the instant time. Where the organizers insisted on going on with the protests, they were advised to stage the protest in confined locations. This would have enabled the police provide adequate protection for the protesters and isolate the criminals whose intention was to loot and destroy in the name of a protest. This we were doing in furtherance of our duty to protect lives and property and maintaining law and order.
“While we affirmed the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and express their views on issues of national importance, we were wary about the dangers posed by agitation instigated by some individuals who have shown tendencies to be disloyal to the government of the day.
“Despite our suspicions, we showed good faith through professional conduct by providing security at strategic locations all aimed at ensuring peaceful conduct during the protest as the promoters pledged. Our men deployed nationwide went out with a clear brief to ensure that no one is unnecessarily harassed or intimidated. In places where there were court orders, we gave instructions for observance of same.
“Regrettably, events in some major cities today showed that what was being instigated was mass uprising and looting, not protest. Those who were in the forefront of promoting the idea of the protest were not around to lead it. Hoodlums have been let loose on innocent Nigerians and their hard-earned businesses and property looted and destroyed. The motive of the rioters was basically two; loot and destroy both private and government property. The destruction so far has been mind-boggling. There has been destruction in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT Abuja, Niger, Jigawa. Police stations have been destroyed, there has been attempts to take over government houses, looting of government infrastructures, several warehouses and shops have so far been looted and, in several instances, completely destroyed.
“In spite of the refusal of the protesters, for instance in FCT to adhere to a court order requesting that protest in Abuja should be at the National Stadium, they trooped into the streets, and yet the police provided security for them. At no point did we breach their fundamental rights even as they breached court order.
“In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on security personnel, where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured.
“We alerted earlier on that terror elements may take advantage of the protests to infiltrate the crowd of protesters with suicide bombers. Yesterday in Lagos, our EOD team was informed of a suspected IED on Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja. The team responded swiftly and rendered safe what turned out to be an improvised explosive device (IED).
“Today in Borno State, we recorded one incident of explosion which occurred in the crowd of protesters killing 4 instantly and severely injuring 34 others, many of whom are presently on danger list.
“We wish to advise law abiding citizens of Nigeria to heed and not dismiss warnings given by the police and other security agencies which were based on credible and actionable security intelligence.
“In the light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilized and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any further threats to public safety and order. We remain committed and resolute to protecting lives and property and ensuring that law and order are maintained across the nation.
“Groups who are hiding under the guise of exercise of a right provided in the Constitution to destabilize the country should remember that the same Constitution imposed on them the duty to obey the laws of the land and respect the rights of other citizens. The Police is equipped to respond appropriately to the unfolding situation and will get assistance from other security agencies, including the military if the need arises.
“We appeal to all citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the Police and other security agencies during this challenging period. Your safety is our top priority, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure continued peace and stability in our country.”
Meanwhile, Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged the government to stop mobilising youths to disrupt rallies.
The senior lawyer also called on government officials to engage with the demonstrators who are expressing their grievances.
Recall that protesters across Nigeria, including the FCT, on Thursday took to the streets to express their frustrations over rising poverty and the high cost of living, demanding improved economic conditions.
Falana stated this during an interview on Thursday evening on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He said: “We must also learn to stop mobilising people to disrupt rallies, we must stop mobilising traditional rulers and some emergency organisations to say, ‘we are pulling out of the protests.’
“The government must now begin to identify those who are genuinely aggrieved and then begin to engage them, ‘what are your complaint?’ So that people will have a sense of belonging.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria has also criticised the Lagos and Ogun state governments, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Administration, for swiftly seeking court orders that restrict protesters to designated areas within the states and the FCT.
The two state governments and the FCTA obtained court orders on Wednesday restricting protesters to specific locations: the Freedom and Peace Parks in Lagos, the MKO National Stadium in the FCT, and several sites in Ogun State, including the MKO Stadium in Abeokuta and Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in Ota.
Falana explained that the protesters’ movement beyond the restricted areas could be attributed to the fact that the court orders were obtained just 24 hours before the protest started, likely leaving insufficient time for proper service to the demonstrators.
He said: “I think the government should have learnt not to rush to court on the eve of a strike action by workers, or the eve of a protest by young people because the difficulty with such orders is that they are never served on those they are made to restrain.
“For instance, the order in Lagos was not served on anybody, the orders in Ogun State were not served on anybody, the order in Abuja, I think one of the defendants is said to be ‘unknown persons. Now, how do you serve court orders on unknown persons?”
He added that the government could designate protest venues, as done elsewhere, and had over two weeks’ notice of the protest, which was sufficient to inform protesters of restrictions without needing a court order.
His words: “In Lagos, largely today, from my information, people came from as far as about 30–40 km away to participate in the protest in Ojota. Again, that is the venue that was being used for protest, before the government sealed it off.
“Ditto for Abuja, protesters were using an enclosure, the Unity Fountain; it is a stone’s throw from Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The government in Abuja, the FCT Administration, sealed it off. So, people then went to the street.
“If the government is now coming back to say in every state capital, we want to designate a venue, a protest ground, as is done in many countries of the world, again, I think that is a lesson to learn.
“But don’t rush to court, when you have at least two weeks’ notice of an impending protest. Don’t rush to court on the eve of that protest because even if the court makes that order, it’s not going to be served on people practically.”
English (US) ·