Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, on Friday, July 26, 2024, issued guidelines for the planned nationwide protest on August 1, 2024.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Egbetokun emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety and order during the demonstrations.
Egbetokun outlined specific requirements for protest organizers to ensure the protests remain peaceful and well-coordinated:
He said that protesters must provide details of their proposed route, assembling point; duration of the protest; names and contacts of protest leaders and organisers.
Egbetokun said that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the state the protest was intended, must also be provided with measures taken to prevent the hijack of the protest by criminal elements.
“Providing this information will enable the police to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety,” Egbetokun stated. “It will also help us designate specific routes and areas for the protest, avoiding conflicts with other events or activities.”
He assured that the police acknowledge the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly but stressed the importance of cooperation to maintain order. He urged all protest groups to work closely with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly.
Egbetokun disclosed that the police had been monitoring the threats surrounding the planned protest. He noted that some groups were calling for violent protests, while others proposed peaceful demonstrations with violent undertones.
