The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday said hoodlums have been let loose on innocent Nigerians and their hard earned businesses and property looted and destroyed.
He also said that the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert, adding that its officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to any further threats to public safety and order.
Egbetokun who said this while addressing the nation on the first of protest, disclosed that one policeman was reported that been murdered, while others were seriously injured.
He revealed that the country recorded one incident of explosion which occurred in the crowd of protesters killing four instantly and severely injuring 34 others, many of whom are presently on danger list.
Noting that police stations have been destroyed, Egbetokun said that there were attempts to take over government houses. He added that looting of government infrastructures, several warehouses and shops also occured in several northern states.
The IGP further noted that the Police is equipped to respond appropriately to the unfolding situation and will get assistance from other security agencies, including the military if the need arises.
He said: “The motive of the rioters was basically two; loot and destroy both private and government property. The destruction so far has been mind-boggling. There has been destruction in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT Abuja, Niger, Jigawa.
“In spite of the refusal of the protesters, for instance in FCT to adhere to a court order requesting that protest in Abuja should be at the National Stadium, they trooped into the streets, and yet the police provided security for them. At no point did we breach their fundamental rights even as they breached court order. In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on security personnel, where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured”.
Egbetokun said that security agencies earlier alerted citizens that terror elements may take advantage of the protests to infiltrate the crowd of protesters with suicide bombers.
According to him, in Lagos on Wednesday our EOD team, was informed of a suspected IED on Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja. The team responded swiftly and rendered safe what turned out to be an improvised explosive device (IED).
He counseled law abiding citizens to heed and not dismiss warnings given by the police and other security agencies which were based on credible and actionable security intelligence.
Egbetokun said that groups who are hiding under the guise of exercise of a right provided in the Constitution to destabilize the country should remember that the same Constitution imposed on them the duty to obey the laws of the land and respect the rights of other citizens.
Stating that it was with grave sense of responsibility that he address the nation last night, the IGP recalled that upon several indications by various groups of their intent to commence a nationwide protest on 1st August, 2024, “we rolled out several warnings based on actionable intelligence at our disposal indicating that some groups were mobilizing our youths for violent protests with intent to create anarchy in the country”.
He noted that some groups claiming to be mobilizing for peaceful protests were doing so with violent undertones refused to cooperate with the police on measures to be taken to guarantee peaceful protest.
He said that following the credible intelligence at its disposal, the Police advised that the protests should be shelved at the instant time. He added that where the organizers insisted on going on with the protests, they were advised to stage the protest in confined locations. This, he further said would have enabled the police provide adequate protection for the protesters and isolate the criminals whose intention was to loot and destroy in the name of a protest.
“This we were doing in furtherance of our duty to protect lives and property and maintaining law and order. While we affirmed the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and express their views on issues of national importance, we were wary about the dangers posed by agitation instigated by some individuals who have shown tendencies to be disloyal to the government of the day. Despite our suspicions, we showed good faith through professional conduct by providing security at strategic locations all aimed at ensuring peaceful conduct during the protest as the promoters pledged. Our men deployed nationwide went out with a clear brief to ensure that no one is unnecessarily harassed or intimidated. In places where there were court orders, we gave instructions for observance of same,” he said.
Saying that events in some major cities yesterday showed that what was being instigated was mass uprising and looting, not protest, Egbetokun concluded that those who were in the forefront of promoting the idea of the protest were not around to lead it.
Ikechukwu Aleke
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