Organisers of the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests have turned down a proposal by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restrict demonstrations to specific locations.
The IGP made the suggestion during a virtual meeting with the protest organisers on Tuesday.
Egbetokun advised against street processions, warning that they might be vulnerable to violence.
“It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence,” the IGP said.
However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer representing the Take It Back Movement, rejected this proposal.
Adegboruwa, alongside human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) representatives, and other civil society organizations, participated in the virtual meeting.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, planned for August, are intended to address the severe economic hardship faced by Nigerians due to inflation and recent policy changes. The protests are set to occur across all states and in the capital, Abuja.
The IGP had earlier instructed senior police officers to assist with security for the protests, following a request by Adegboruwa.
Despite this, the IGP proposed confining protests to specific locations to avoid potential violence and infiltration by “fifth columnists and enemies of the state.”
Adegboruwa, however, insisted that there would be street processions leading to designated protest sites.
“Our letter to the Inspector General of Police indicates that there will be processions that will be guided to achieve peace during the protests,” Adegboruwa stated.
He emphasized that the focus should be on addressing threats from groups threatening violence rather than restricting the protests.
The IGP reiterated his stance, saying, “I will not be able to guarantee security for your members if you embark on street processions. I believe that a peaceful protest in a confined location will be safe.”
He added that if state Commissioners of Police have sufficient resources, they could provide security for street processions.
The organisers are urged to coordinate with local police to ensure security during both street processions and confined protests.