The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern warning against any attempts to replicate the recent protests in Kenya under the guise of #EndBadGovernance.
Speaking at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, during a strategic meeting with top police officers, Egbetokun emphasized the commitment of the Nigerian Police Force to prevent any violent demonstrations.
Last month, Kenya experienced significant unrest as young citizens protested against policies they deemed anti-masses.
These demonstrations, which targeted the parliament and other strategic locations, resulted in substantial reforms, including a cabinet reshuffle.
In Nigeria, various groups are mobilizing for a protest-themed #EndBadGovernance. This movement seeks to address grievances related to the country’s economic and political landscape.
Egbetokun, during his address to Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG), and Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIG), advised those planning the protest to abandon the idea. He stressed that the police force would not tolerate any form of violence.
He referenced the traumatic experiences of the police during the #EndSARS protests, highlighting the ongoing recovery from those events.
Egbetokun said, “Our position is that the proposed violent protests are ill-advised and should be jettisoned fortuitously. We have the responsibility to protect properties and everyone, irrespective of their race, colour, ethnicity, or tribe, who are lawfully embarking on their daily activities.
“We will, therefore, not sit back and fold our arms to watch violent activities unleash violence on our peaceful communities or destroy any of our national critical infrastructure and assets again.
“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 strategising 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, and 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.”
Fielding questions from journalists, Egbetokun also said that measures are in place to ensure that any hoodlums attempting to disguise themselves as protesters will be apprehended.
He stated, “We have mapped out plans to ensure that no individual or group succeeds in fostering a reign of terror and anarchy on other law-abiding and dissolving Nigerians.
“Consequently, I want to seize this opportunity to sound the note of serious warning to hoodlums who may want to take laws into their own hands in the name of protests. Do not worry.”
