The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has urged his men across the country to “deal decisively” with arsonists and troublemakers when youths across the Federation begin #EndBadGovernance rallies against hunger and economic hardship on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
In a statement signed personally on the eve of the statewide protests, the police chief stated that the organisers of the planned demonstrations neglected to provide the police with protest specifics such as the names of intended participants, rally routes, and other information.
The investigation’s chief stated “the name given to the movement — ‘Take It Back Movement’ has far-reaching undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal connotations” .
He claimed that information revealed that the protests are intended to cause havoc in the political system and among ordinary individuals.
Egbetokun stated that the police will not stand by and watch the situation deteriorate into a “state of anomy”.
He placed all police forces around the country on high alert to protect innocent lives and property from attack and destruction.
“All officers and men of the Nigeria Police are hereby directed to act and deal decisively with any act of arson, intimidation or harassment of any citizen, threat to lives and properties, breach of peace and any act of criminality that may arise or flow from the planned protest in any part of the country.
“Perpetrators of any crime will be arersted and promptly prosecuted,” he said.
The planned protests over economic hardship, which are gathering steam on social media, are set to take place in all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital, Abuja, in August.
Prices for food and essential goods have skyrocketed in recent months, as Nigerians grapple with one of the country’s highest inflation rates and economic crises, triggered by the government’s dual policies of removing petrol subsidies and unifying forex windows.
The police, military, and Department of State Services have warned against Kenya-style protests. Politicians, fearing that the planned rallies will wind up similar to the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020, have continued to plead to youngsters to postpone the rallies, but the young people remain steadfast in their determination to hold the protests.