Protest: Police caution citizens, appeal to protesters for cooperation

The Police Command in Kaduna State has cautioned citizens of the state and advised protesters to cooperate with the police during the protest scheduled to take place between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10.

The Command’s Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mansir Hassan, made the appeal on Sunday in a statement issued in Kaduna.

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Hassan said: “The command is closely monitoring the developments surrounding the planned protests scheduled from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10.

“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.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mr Audu Dabigi, has advised 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,” he said.

He said there were individuals who claimed to support peaceful protests but with undertones of violence which had raised concerns about their true intentions.

“The Command commends the 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, recognising the potential manipulation by enemies of our country.

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“We can confirm that their concerns are valid. We urge citizens of Kaduna State to exercise caution and reconsider joining any protest group,” he said.

Hassan said that the police have so much respect for the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.

“We emphasise 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 destabilise the country and to hoodlums seeking to exploit the protests for their criminal agendas.”

He added that the command would not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, the destruction of public infrastructure and private property, or the looting of businesses.

He 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.”

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Hassan said to facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, the police had requested the protesters to provide certain information including protest routes and assembly points designated for the protest.

“Names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers, measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for isolating potential troublemakers,” Hassan added.

The spokesperson said that by providing that information, the police would be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety and designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.

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He also said that those information would open clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise and minimise the risk of violence, property damage or other criminal activity.

“We are committed to working with all Nigerians to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order,” Hassan said.