All organizations intending to take part in the planned nationwide protest have been urged by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to provide their information to the Commissioners of Police in their individual states.
He made these remarks on Friday while speaking to reporters in Abuja.
He said this was to ensure the protest was peaceful.
Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.
“However, we ask all organizations organizing protests to send the relevant information to the state’s commissioner of police in order to protect public safety and order.
“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information: state the proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; and names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.”
The Inspector General (IG) went on to say that the organizers were expected to provide information on safeguards against potential hijacking by criminal elements and key identifiers for potential troublemakers to be isolated.
He added that by providing the information, the police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.
Additionally, he stated that in order to prevent clashes with other events or activities, the police required specific directions and locations for the protest.
Egbetokun has also released the following additional guidelines: “Minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity; establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise.”
“To ensure a safe and successful exercise of their rights, we encourage all protestors to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly.”
