In a meeting with protest organisers on Tuesday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun suggested confining nationwide demonstrations planned for August to identified locations. The IGP advised against street rallies, stating “It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence.”
However, the organisers, represented by lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, rejected the IGP’s proposal. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, Nigerian Bar Association representatives, other lawyers, civil society groups, and protest leaders also attended the virtual meeting.
The planned protests, gaining traction on social media, aim to address economic hardship caused by the government’s policies of petrol subsidy removal and forex unification. The police and other security agencies had warned against protests, fearing a repeat of the 2020 EndSARS demonstrations.
During the meeting, IGP Egbetokun said some persons calling for violence have been arrested. He warned that street processions could be hijacked by enemies of the state, stating “Confining peaceful protesters to particular locations will help us a lot.”
After the IGP’s proposal, Adegboruwa said there would be street processions before protesters converged at specific locations sent to the police. He assured the IGP that the organisers are not destructive and advised focusing on thugs threatening violence.
IGP Egbetokun subsequently said the police would provide security cover for protesters at confined locations. However, he warned, “I will not be able to guarantee security for your members if you embark on street processions.” The IGP advised organisers to contact state police chiefs to request security for both street processions and confined protests.