The Kaduna state police command has asked all groups in the state, planning to participate in the nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship, to provide necessary details of the protest from where it will start, when where and it will end.
In a statement on Sunday, Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the command, said providing important information to the police commissioner about how protesters intend to operate will enable the police to provide adequate security cover.
The statement said, “In the interest of public safety and order, we request all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the State where the protest is intended to take place.
“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, we ask for the following information:
“Proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers, measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for isolating potential troublemakers”.
Hassan said by providing the information, the police will be able to: “Deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety;
Designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities;
“Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise and minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity”.
The statement said, Audu Ali Dabigi, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, “encourages all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights.”
Hassan added that the police is “committed to working with all Nigerians to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order”.
According to him, the Command has been closely monitoring the developments surrounding the planned protests scheduled from 1st August to 10th August.
‘We have observed that while some groups are advocating for peaceful demonstrations, others are calling for violent protests, drawing inspiration from recent events in Kenya.
“Additionally, there are individuals who claim to support peaceful protests but with undertones of violence, raising concerns about their true intentions.
“The Command commends patriots who have decided to withdraw from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those advocating violence.
“We also acknowledge those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, recognizing the potential manipulation by enemies of our country. We can confirm that their concerns are valid”, Hassan said.
The statement urged citizens of Kaduna state to exercise caution and reconsider joining any protest groups.
“While we respect the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest, we emphasize that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed due to the potential for exploitation by groups with malicious intentions.
“We issue a stern warning to clandestine groups plotting to destabilize the country and to hoodlums seeking to exploit the protests for their criminal agendas.
“We will not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, the destruction of public infrastructure and private property, or the looting of businesses,” the police warned.
