On Wednesday, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), spoke to senior police officers from all over the nation virtually. The focus of the discussion was on important matters related to law and order maintenance, deployment, and readiness for the upcoming nationwide protest.
The IGP stressed in his speech the value of keeping the force’s professionalism and alertness at a high level, emphasizing that our nation’s safety and security rested on the bravery, alertness, and preparedness of our police and other security personnel.
The IGP emphasized the necessity of police officers being strategically deployed and always ready to respond to any situation while fully equipped and prepared to handle any eventuality.
Emphasizing the critical role of the police in maintaining law and order, the IGP reminded senior officers of their duty to uphold the rule of law, and police with the highest level of integrity.
The IGP further emphasized that while peaceful demonstrations are a democratic right, the police must be vigilant to prevent any group from hijacking such events to incite violence.
He issued an order saying, “As Nigeria cannot afford to record any violence in this period, proactive measures must be emplaced to ensure that peaceful protests do not turn into violent confrontations.”
Furthermore, with much emphasis, the IGP “issued a stern warning against the spread of fake news via various media platforms charging officers to put in necessary emplacements to manage this”, and “advising members of the public to shun the spread of unverified contents on social media”.
The IGP reiterated that “confined protests are best in this situation to prevent destruction of public infrastructures and other properties” and cautioned against “unplanned protests and unnecessary street processions, which can disrupt public order and safety.”
“All senior officers must stay firm in their dedication to service, stressing that their leadership is essential in navigating the challenges ahead,” the IGP urged.
