Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has revealed that the police have “credible intelligence” suggesting foreign mercenaries are involved in the planned nationwide protest.
Egbetokun made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Recent reports have indicated a youth-led plan for a nationwide protest due to the country’s economic hardships, scheduled to begin on August 1. The federal and state governments, including President Bola Tinubu, have urged the youths to cancel the protest. Religious and traditional institutions have also called for its cancellation. Additionally, the military and the Department of State Services (DSS) have warned that the protest could be hijacked to incite violence.
Egbetokun advised that a peaceful protest at this time might be “ill-timed.”
“We note those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, fearing enemies of our country may be manipulating the process,” the IGP stated. “We confirm that their fears are genuine, as we have credible intelligence of foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest.”
The Nigeria Police have urged citizens to exercise caution and reconsider joining any protest group, highlighting the sinister motives of certain groups planning to cause chaos.
“Even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed,” Egbetokun warned. “We issue a strong warning to clandestine groups planning to destabilize the country and hoodlums seeking to exploit the protest for their criminal agenda.”
While acknowledging the constitutional right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly, Egbetokun assured that the police would provide security during the protest. He requested organizers to provide the following information to ensure an incident-free protest: the proposed protest route and assembly point, expected duration of the protest, names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers, and measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for isolating potential troublemakers.
The IGP concluded by stating that the police are ready to work with all Nigerians to promote “peaceful expression and maintain public order.”
(DailyPost)