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Hardship Protest: Police promise to protect demonstrators across Nigeria.
By; Mary Owolabi.
The Nigeria Police Force has maintained its commitment to preserving demonstrators’ rights and freedoms if the Nigeria Labor Congress and other unions’ scheduled national protest action on February 27 and 28 is carried out.
While adding that personnel have been placed on red alert and will be deployed to guarantee peaceful demonstration, Force Headquarters stated that it will stay attentive against any efforts to hijack such protests by people or groups with malicious intent.
According to a statement issued by Force headquarters, “following the proposed nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), the NPF hereby affirms the fundamental right of all citizens of the country to engage in peaceful protest by existing laws.”
The Nigeria Police Force has deployed personnel nationwide and placed them on red alert to monitor the planned protest. Commissioners of Police and supervising officers have been briefed and instructed to coordinate officers on the ground to ensure the safety and security of all participants if the protests take place as planned. While acknowledging the value of peaceful protest, the Nigeria Police Force is watchful against any efforts to hijack such protests by people or groups with malicious intentions.
“Emphatically, the force, therefore, is fully prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any unlawful activities or acts of violence that may threaten peace, public safety, and security in the event of such.
It is critical to note that the Police have stretched their tentacles countrywide to prevent any attempt by certain persons to exploit the widespread protests to create havoc, which will be dealt with by an approved legal and proportional force.
The statement stated, “The Police will not tolerate wanton breakdowns of law and order, loss of life and property, as we have seen in the past in any part of the country.”
The Inspector-General of Police advises all participants in the intended demonstration to behave themselves calmly and responsibly, keeping to the values of nonviolence and respect for others’ rights.
He also urges the organizers to work with the police and other relevant security agencies to keep their protests peaceful and orderly, while the NPF works tirelessly to ensure that protests are held in a safe environment conducive to the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.”
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