The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued ordered his officers to “deal decisively” with any arsonists or troublemakers as the nation braces for a series of protests starting today.
The nationwide demonstrations, organised under the banner of the “Take It Back Movement,” are set to address widespread hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria.
In a statement released on the eve of the protests, IGP Egbetokun criticized the organizers for failing to provide crucial details about the planned demonstrations, including participant names and rally routes.
The IGP expressed concerns over the movement’s name, suggesting it carries “far-reaching undemocratic, unconstitutional, and illegal connotations.”
Egbetokun stated that intelligence reports indicated the protests might be used to cause chaos and disrupt public order.
He emphasised that the police will not tolerate any deterioration into a “state of anomy,” stressing the need to protect lives and property from potential violence.
“All officers and men of the Nigeria Police are hereby directed to act and deal decisively with any act of arson, intimidation, harassment, threats to lives and properties, breach of peace, and any act of criminality that may arise from the planned protest,” Egbetokun said.
He assured that perpetrators of any crimes would be arrested and swiftly prosecuted.
The planned protests, gaining momentum on social media, come amid severe economic distress in Nigeria.
The country is grappling with soaring food prices and one of its highest inflation rates in decades, largely attributed to recent government policies, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates.
The police, alongside the military and the Department of State Services, have previously cautioned against a repeat of the violent protests seen in Kenya and the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020.
Despite appeals from politicians and authorities, the protesters remain determined, signalling a potentially turbulent period ahead.
The nationwide protests are set to unfold in all states and the capital, Abuja, with participants demanding action on economic reforms and relief from the ongoing financial crisis. The police’s response will be closely watched as the country navigates this period of heightened tension and unrest.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court issued an order restricting the nationwide protests to the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The order was given by Judge Sylvanus Oriji on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT.
The court’s decision came in response to an application by the minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The application named Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, and other unnamed individuals as the first to fifth defendants.
The application also listed key security officials as respondents, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Commissioner of Police, and heads of various security agencies.
Wike’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, argued that the minister sought an interim injunction to prevent the defendants and other protesters from gathering or parading in roadways, streets, offices, and public premises within the FCT from August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending a further hearing of the motion on notice.
Additionally, Wike requested that security agencies be mandated to enforce this restriction.
Wike cited concerns from intelligence and security reports suggesting that some protest leaders might exploit the demonstration to cause damage, obstruct traffic, disrupt public order, and prevent free movement. He noted that security services had indicated a lack of resources to address potential issues arising from the protests on short notice.
The court granted all of Wike’s requests, emphasising the need to ensure that Abuja residents can exercise their constitutional right to freedom of movement while maintaining the safety of lives and property.
