Organisers reject IGP’s proposal for confined protests, insist on street processions

During a meeting today, the IGP suggested that protests be confined to designated areas and urged against street rallies.

“It is not advisable to hold street processions because while you are planning a protest, others may plan violence,” he cautioned.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), representing the Take It Back Movement—which is one of the groups organizing the nationwide protests—disagreed with the IGP’s proposal.

Also present at the virtual meeting were human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), various attorneys, civil society organizations, and key figures involved in the planned demonstrations.

The protests, aimed at addressing economic hardship and has been gaining momentum on social media, is set to take place across all states of Nigeria and in the nation’s capital, Abuja, in August.

Nigerians have been grappling with soaring prices of food and essential goods due to one of the country’s worst inflation rates, exacerbated by government policies like the removal of petrol subsidies and unification of foreign exchange rates.

Meanwhile, authorities, including the police, military, and Department of State Services, have cautioned against the possibility of protests resembling the EndSARS protest from October 2020.

Politicians have urged youths to reconsider the planned rallies, but the young protestors remain undeterred, firmly asserting their intention to proceed with the demonstrations.

On July 26, 2024, Adegboruwa sent a letter to the IGP requesting police protection for the protesters.

In response, the IGP wrote back on July 29, 2024, instructing senior officers to address the request.

Egbetokun later requested a meeting with Adegboruwa in Abuja on July 30, 2024, to discuss the matter further.

However, Adegboruwa opted for a virtual meeting with the police chief, including Falana and other members of the NBA.

Adegboruwa outlined several designated gathering points for the protests, including Eagle Square in Abuja, Alausa Park in Lagos, Akpakpava Lane in Benin City, School of Agriculture in Bauchi, Rosewale Filling Station in Ibadan, Maiduguri Roundabout in Damaturu, Yobe State, Rainbow Roundabout, Pantani Stadium in Rivers, and Freedom Park in Osogbo.

During the meeting, Egbetokun noted that some individuals advocating for violence at the protests had already been arrested.

He emphasized the risks of street processions being infiltrated by troublemakers, stating, “Keeping peaceful protests to confined areas will be beneficial.”

He alerted the attendees that elements of terrorism might attempt to infiltrate crowded gatherings to instigate chaos.

In response to the IGP’s proposal, Adegboruwa stated that there would be street processions leading to designated locations where protesters would gather.

“Our correspondence with the Inspector General of Police makes clear that there will be guided processions to ensure peace during the protests,” he explained, highlighting that leaders would deliver speeches on protest days.

Adegboruwa further urged the police to focus their attention on thugs and groups threatening violence.

He clarified that the organizers could not specify the number of participants, as all Nigerians are invited to join the rallies.

He reassured the IGP that the organizers aim to conduct peaceful protests.

Egbetokun then confirmed that the police would provide security for protesters at the specified locations communicated to the Force Headquarters.

However, he noted, “I won’t be able to guarantee security for your members if you engage in street processions. I believe that a peaceful protest in a confined area will be secure.”

He added that if the Commissioners of Police in various states had sufficient personnel, they could deploy officers to oversee protesters during street rallies.

He advised organizers to liaise with local police officials to inform them of their security requests for both street processions and confined protests.