By Seyi Babalola
The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has stated that the Nigeria Police will respond to the August 1 planned demonstration by certain Nigerians “in a most professional manner.”
Egbetokun revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers, which included personnel with the level of Commissioner of Police and above.
He stated that the purpose of the meeting with the Strategic Police Managers was to share intelligence from the country’s various police commands and assess it for national security.
“So we are prepared and I want to assure you that we will manage the protest in the most professional manner,” he said.
The IG said the police would remain committed to providing security for those who would engage in peaceful protest.
“If the protest is peaceful, you will see us protecting the protesters as long as they remain peaceful.
“But we have a duty to protect lives and property, so we will not sit back and watch hoodlums burning down facilities in the name of protest.
“So we are not against peaceful protest, we will support peaceful protest by protecting those who will engage in peaceful protest,” he said.
He said the task of maintaining law and order during the protest would not be a challenge if the protesters engaged in peaceful protest.
According to him, it becomes a challenge if the protest is violent and I have always said that the right to protest is the right to peaceful protest.
