The Kaduna State Police Command has urged residents to exercise caution and asked protesters to cooperate with the police during the protest scheduled to hold between August 1 and August 10.
The Command’s Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mansir Hassan, made this appeal on Sunday in a statement released in Kaduna.
Hassan stated, “The command is closely monitoring the developments surrounding the planned protests scheduled from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10.
“We have observed that while some groups are advocating for peaceful demonstrations, others are calling for violent protests, drawing inspiration from recent events in Kenya.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Audu Dabigi, has advised all protesters to cooperate with the Police and obey the law and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights,” he said.
He noted concerns about individuals who purportedly support peaceful protests but have hidden violent intentions.
“The Command commends the patriots who have decided to withdraw from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those advocating violence.
“We also acknowledge those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, recognizing the potential manipulation by enemies of our country.
“We can confirm that their concerns are valid.
“We urge citizens of Kaduna State to exercise caution and reconsider joining any protest group,” he said.
Hassan emphasized that the police respect the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.
“We emphasize that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed due to the potential for exploitation by groups with malicious intentions.
“We issue a stern warning to clandestine groups plotting to destabilize the country and to hoodlums seeking to exploit the protests for their criminal agendas.”
He added that the command would not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, the destruction of public infrastructure and private property, or the looting of businesses.
“In the interest of public safety and order, we request all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the State where the protest is intended to take place,” Hassan said.
To ensure a smooth and incident-free protest, Hassan said the police had requested the protesters to provide specific information such as protest routes and assembly points.
“Names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers, measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for isolating potential troublemakers,” Hassan added.
He explained that providing this information would allow the Police to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety and designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
Additionally, this information would establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise and minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.
“We are committed to working with all Nigerians to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order,” Hassan said. (NAN)
