- While he affirmed the right of citizens to protest, he said the reason for collection of details was to ensure the protest went smoothly
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed those intending to take part in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
He gave the directive while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday.
While he affirmed the right of citizens to protest, he said the reason for collection of details was to ensure the protest went smoothly.
Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.
“However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.
“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 IG also disclosed that the organisers are expected to provide information on measures they’ve put in place to prevent the demonstration from being hijacked by criminal elements, as well as key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.
He added that by providing the information, the police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.
He also said the police needed to know the specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
Other guidelines, as issued by Egbetokun, are, “Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise; minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.
“We encourage all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights.”
Details later…