The Niger Police has vowed to resist violence during the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1.
A statement by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh in Abuja on Friday, said the FCT Command has also deployed a total of 4,200 police officers to curb any form of violence that might arise during the protest.
The command was reacting in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths, to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship.
The planned protest has since generated massive traction on social media, especially on X.
According to Adeh, the command has proactively deployed material and human resources at its disposal across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital.
The deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protecting protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, the command said is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts, and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol, and synergy with sister security agencies.
The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh while acknowledging the right of residents to protest, advised that it should be peaceful.
He wrote, “The CP vows to resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, as the police will not be stampeded into allowing the destruction of public and private properties or loss of lives.
Residents are also urged to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines, to report suspicious activities through 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, and CRU: 08107314192.
Sponsors of protests don’t love Nigeria – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, weighed in on the planned nationwide protests, saying that sponsors of the demonstrations do not love the country.
The President on Thursday at the Presidential Villa while receiving a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, said though he did not identify any sponsor, he said those championing the cause of the protests have alternative passports and hold meetings virtually across the world.
“The sponsors of protests do not love our country. They have no love for the nation. They do not understand citizenship. They have alternative passports,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
“They are in different parts of the world holding meetings virtually. We do not want to turn Nigeria into Sudan. We are talking about hunger, not burials. We have to be careful. We should be careful with premature politics; politics of hate, and anger.
“The internet has made it possible to hold meetings in artificial settings. They hold meetings and sponsor anger,” the President told the religious leaders.
President Tinubu argued that the protests, fuelled by anger and hate, could degenerate into violence and set the country backwards.
No cabal
During the meeting, the president allayed fears of manipulation by any interest group in the ongoing economic reforms.
He maintained that his campaign was self-sponsored, without strings, or indebtedness to any individual or institution.
“I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against me; banks were locked. But Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the President. Mine is to now follow the leading and teaching of the Almighty God.
“One of the most potent elements of defence is a good conscience. It is also a defence against corruption.
“What should be uppermost in our minds is the future of our children. We have a lot to teach them on what it takes to be a good citizen and what it takes to be a responsible citizen,” the President stated.
