Foreign mercenaries recruited to hijack planned protest, cause damage – IGP

Ahead of the planned nationwide protest against the economic hardship in the country, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has disclosed that the Police have intelligence reports showing that foreign mercenaries have been recruited to hijack the protest and cause damage in the country.

Speaking in Abuja, he urged Nigerians to be wise, exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group at this point in time so as to prevent drawing the nation back.

“We have been monitoring developments surrounding protest threats. While some groups call for violent protests, emulating Kenya’s recent events, others advocate for peaceful demonstrators.

“However, some individuals are promoting peaceful protests with violent undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity.“

We have our history of violent protests in Nigeria, and I don’t believe we have to look to other countries to note the dangers of unchecked demonstrations.

“We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence.“

We note those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, fearing enemies of our country may be manipulating the process.

“We confirm their fears are genuine, as we have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest. The Nigerian police urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group.”

Towards ensuring that the protest is peaceful and non-destructive, Egbetokun called on groups involved and planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.

“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information –

1, The proposed protest routes and assembly points. 2. Expected duration of the protest. 3. Names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers and 4. Measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.

“By providing this information, the police will be enabled to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.‘

5. Designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.“

6. Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise.