The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has sent 4,200 officers into the corners of the country’s capital in advance of the planned nationwide protest.
Additionally, the command declared that experts in explosive ordnance devices would be stationed at several key locations.
The command said in a statement released on Friday by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, that the deployment was made to guarantee public safety, safeguard demonstrators, and stop non-state actors from taking over the protests.
She added that there would be raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, and stop-and-search operations, among others, in collaboration with sister security agencies.
She stated: “The FCT Police Command has proactively deployed material and human resources across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital 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 proactive deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protecting protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordnance device experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and synergy with sister security agencies.”
Adeh noted that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, warned that the destruction of public and private properties would not be tolerated during the protest.
“While acknowledging residents’ right to protest, the Commissioner of Police FCT advises that it be peaceful,” she stated.
The police will not be forced to tolerate the destruction of private and public property or the loss of life, so the CP promises to oppose all violent protests and acts of lawlessness.
Adeh urged residents to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines to report suspicious activities.
It is reported that the nationwide protest is scheduled to be held from August 1 to 10, 2024.
The protest is in response to the suffering that the nation’s citizens are going through.
