Police Justify Request For Protesters’ Details, Call It ‘Standard Procedure

Police Justify Request For Protesters’ Details, Call It ‘Standard Procedure

The Nigeria Police Force on Sunday defended its request for the names and other details of intending participants of the forthcoming August nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.

Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said having such details is standard procedure to ensure the safety of all participants and prevent any unlawful activities.

The police had last week made the demand to protect peaceful protesters, but many Nigerians, including activist Deji Adeyanju, rejected such a condition.

In a statement on Sunday, Adejobi said, “It is vital to clarify that the IGP has never denied the constitutional right of every citizen to freedom of association and expression, but has rather, at every point, emphasized that the right is that to peaceful assembly and expression.

“Also, the Nigeria Police holds the responsibility to ensure that any activity, including protests, does not pose a threat to national security.

“In this wise, requesting the details of protest organizers and their leaders and the schedules of their protests which include location, period, routes, etc., is a standard procedure to facilitate effective communication, ensure the safety of all participants, and prevent any unlawful activities.

“It is essential to know who is planning the assembly (protests) in each state, as allowing faceless groups to operate unchecked could jeopardize the peace and stability of the country, and leave us with pains, sorrows, and tears as experienced in the 2020 violent EndSARS Protests.”

The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organisers of the protest have been faceless.

Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in recent months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.