Protesters insist on street rallies, reject IGP confined locations proposal

Protesters insist on street rallies, reject IGP confined locations proposal 

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday held a virtual meeting with promoters of the planned nationwide protest where he proposed holding the event in confirmed locations for adequate security and protection.

But the organisers turned down the suggestion and insisted on street demonstration.

The mass action expected to begin on August 1 is a protest against bad governance and unpopular economic policies of the government inflicting hardship on the majority of Nigerians.

At a meeting with the organisers on Tuesday, Egbetokun said, “It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence.”

However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer to the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organising the nationwide protests, rejected the proposal of the IGP.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and leaders of civil society organisations also attended the virtual meeting.

Adegboruwa named some of the points of convergence for the protests as Eagle Square, Abuja; Alausa Park, Lagos; Akpakpava Lane, Benin City; School of Agric, Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium, River and Freedom Park, Osogbo.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, Egbetokun warned against street processions which he said could be hijacked by criminals and enemies of the state.

“Confining peaceful protesters to particular locations will help us a lot,” the IGP said.

But Adegboruwa said there would be street processions before protesters converged on the specific locations already sent to the police.

“Our letter to the Inspector General of Police indicates that there will be processions that will be guided to achieve peace during the protests,” he said, noting that leaders will also make speeches on the days of the protest.

The lawyer assured the IGP that the organisers would not be destructive.

Egbetokun in his response said, “I will not be able to guarantee security for your members if you embark on street processions.

“I believe that a peaceful protest in a confined location will be safe.”

The police boss quickly added that if Commissioners of Police in states across the Federation have enough manpower, they could deploy their men to guard protesters during street processions.

He advised the organisers to contact police commands in their various locations to notify them of their requests for security cover during street procession and confined protests.