The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, stated on Tuesday, July 23, that the proposed nationwide protest was ill-advised.
He urged citizens to avoid the planned protest.
Egbetokun’s statement was made in response to social media campaigns rallying for a nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 due to the economic hardship in the country.
Speaking during a meeting with commissioners of police in Abuja, he noted that the country has experienced violent protests with severe consequences.
The IG added that the last EndSARS protest worsened crime rates and insecurity in several parts of the country.
The police boss said: “Before concluding this address, it is important I address an issue of urgent national importance which appears to have gained some momentum, particularly on social media, in the past few weeks. 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 Kenya protests.
“While the force acknowledges the 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 one-tenth destruction of public assets, including police stations, courts, and transport infrastructure, and the loss of several lives.
“Tales of sorrow, tears, and blood followed what was supposedly intended to be a well-intentioned exercise. Rather than 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 these protests.”
He, urged the citizens to jettison the proposed protest, adding that the police have the responsibility to protect citizens and their properties.
Egbetokun said: “Hence, our position is that the proposed violent protests are ill-advised and should be jettisoned fortuitously. We have the responsibility to protect properties and everyone, irrespective of their race, colour, ethnicity, or tribe, who are lawfully embarking on their daily activities. We will therefore not sit back and fold our arms to watch violent activities unleash violence on our peaceful communities or destroy any of our national critical infrastructure and assets again.”
He said measures are in place to ensure that any hoodlums attempting to disguise themselves as protesters will be apprehended.
According to IGP: “We have mapped out plans to ensure that no individual or group succeeds in fostering a reign of terror and anarchy on other law-abiding and dissolving Nigerians. Consequently, I want to seize this opportunity to sound the note of serious warning to hoodlums who may want to take laws into their own hands in the name of protests. Do not worry”.
