Nigeria can’t endure more protest fallout, police boss insists

The Nigeria Police Force has appealed to the citizens to shelve the proposed nationwide protest, stressing that the demonstration was ill-advised.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, made the call in response to social media campaigns mobilising for a nationwide protest slated for August 1 due to the economic hardship in the country.

Speaking during a meeting with commissioners of police in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Egbetokun said the country has its fair share of violent protests with severe consequences.

He referred to the last #EndSARS protest, which he said aggravated crime rates, insecurity in several parts, and led to the one-tenth destruction of public assets, including police stations, courts, and transport infrastructure, and the loss of several lives.

The police boss further criticised the organisers for planning to unleash terror in the land under the guise of replicating the recent Kenya protests.

Egbetokun stressed that while the force acknowledges the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, the police must ensure that these protests do not snowball into violence or disorder.

He emphasised that while the police recognise and respect the constitutional right to peaceful protest, they also have a responsibility to prevent such protests from escalating into violent or chaotic situations.

He said:  “Before concluding this address, it is important I address an issue of urgent national importance which appears to have gained some momentum, particularly on social media, in the past few weeks.

“Some groups of people, self-appointed crusaders and influencers, have been strategizing and mobilizing potential protesters to unleash terror in the land under the guise of replicating the recent Kenya protests.

“While the force acknowledges the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in our constitution, we must ensure that these protests do not snowball into violence or disorder.

“As a nation, we have had more than our fair share of violent protests, with rather dastardly consequences.

“The last #EndSARS protest led to one-tenth destruction of public assets, including police stations, courts, and transport infrastructure, as well as the loss of several lives. Tales of sorrow, tears, and blood followed what was supposedly intended to be a well-intentioned exercise.

“Rather than lead to any positive outcome, #EndSARS merely aggravated crime rates and insecurity in several parts of the country. Indeed, we are yet to fully recover from the huge economic losses and deep-seated psychological and emotional trauma inflicted upon our people by these protests.”

Nigeria has been facing a dire economic downturn in recent months, leading to calls for protests demanding government intervention.

The country’s inflation rate rose to a new 28-year high of 34.19% in annual terms in June, according to official data.