The Nigeria Police have vowed to resist any violence during the planned nationwide protest set for August 1. In a statement released on Friday by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Command has deployed 4,200 police officers to curb potential violence during the protest.
The command is responding to the anticipated protest by human rights activists and Nigerian youths, who plan to express their dissatisfaction with hunger and hardship in the country. The planned protest has gained significant traction on social media, particularly on X.
Adeh stated that the command has proactively deployed both material and human resources throughout the nation’s capital. This deployment aims to ensure public safety, protect protesters, and prevent the protest from being hijacked by non-state actors. Measures include visibility policing, deployment of explosive ordnance devices (EOD) experts, positioning personnel at strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and coordination with other security agencies.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh, acknowledged the residents’ right to protest but emphasized that it must remain peaceful. He stated, “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 encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities using the police emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653, PCB: 09022222352, and CRU: 08107314192.
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.
