The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the police top brass to safeguard the intending participants of the planned #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to hold from August 1 to 10, 2024.
This development was contained in a letter by the IGP by way of granting a request from the human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
This whole affair had begun when Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had on July 26, 2024, written to the IGP to supply police coverage for protesters.
The senior lawyer had appealed to the IGP on behalf of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups planning the #EndBadGovernance protest in August.
The IGP had then responded on July 29, 2024 by directing senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer.
The planned nationwide hunger protest against economic hardship, which is gaining momentum on social media, has been slated to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital in August.
Officials of the police, military and the Department of State Service (DSS) had all feared that the protest might turn into a Kenya-styled protest.
Politicians were not left out too as they have continued to appeal to youths to stop the planned rallies but the young people have remained adamant, doggedly insisting that the protest must hold accordingly.
What They’re Saying
Egbetokun’s response which was signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola had read;
“I am to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request.
“I am to also inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30th July, 2024 to deliberate further on your request,” CP Adenola said.