- By Halimah Olamide
The Nigeria Police on Tuesday warned that it will not sit and watch attacks on infrastructure in the name of protests.
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said that the police have a duty to protect citizens saying those who want peaceful protests will be protected while those aiming to cause destruction will be made to face the music.
Saying that the police will handle the protests in the most professional manner, Egbetokun warned those who see the proposed protests as opportunity to cause mayhem to be well guided.
Egbetokun said this on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers, consisting of officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police and above.
He said the meeting with the Strategic Police Managers was to share intelligence from the various Police Commands in the country and analyse same for the security of the country.
“So we are prepared and I want to assure you that we will manage the protest in the most professional manner,” he said.
The I-G said the police would remain committed to provide security for those that would engage in peaceful protest.
“If the protest is peaceful, you will see us protecting the protesters as long as they remain peaceful.
“But we have a duty to protect lives and property, so we will not sit back and watch hoodlums burning down facilities in the name of protest.
“So we are not against peaceful protest, we will support peaceful protest by protecting those who will engage in peaceful protest,” he said.
He said the task of maintaining law and order during the protest would not be a challenge if the protesters engaged in peaceful protest.
According to him, it becomes a challenge if the protest is violent and I have always said that the right to protest is right to peaceful protest.
“No civilised society will tolerate violent protest. Violent protest is criminal, but peaceful protest is a right.”
The I-G, therefore, called on Nigerian youths to ignore anyone inciting them to violent protests.