“TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT,” has far-reaching, undemocratic, unconstitutional, and illegal connotations
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has described the ongoing nationwide protest as a deliberate attempt to create mayhem in the country.
In a statement personally signed on Thursday, the IGP said the mayhem was targeted at the polity, innocent citizens, markets, stores, private and public properties, as well as critical infrastructure of government.
According to him, the name given to the movement behind the protest, “TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT,” has far-reaching, undemocratic, unconstitutional, and illegal connotations
He gave the assurance that the police would use all constitutional means in curtailing any violence that might result from the protest.
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The Commissioner for Police in Lagos State, Adegoke Fayoade, says the force has been mandated to protect protesters at the designated protest centers in the state.
He is also appealing to the protesters to stay within the designated areas assigned for the protest and conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner.
CP Fayaode says the police are on the ground to prevent miscreants from hijacking the protests.
He adds that the Police are also working with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful protest in Lagos.
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On the other hand, there is a large crowd of protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, carrying placards with various inscriptions.
Some of them who spoke with Nigeria Info say they are angry because the current situation is not what they were promised.
The Police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters marching to Eagle Square in Abuja.
But one of the organizers of the protest. Comrade Deji Adeyanju has insisted that the protesters will not be intimidated by security operatives.
Speaking to newsmen at the MKO Abiola Stadium where the protesters had converged, Adeyanju, who is also a legal practitioner, insisted that the protesters would be peaceful.
He, however, cautioned security operatives to refrain from infringing on the rights of the protesters and should rather provide them adequate security.
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The police have declared a 24-hour curfew in all 27 Local Government Areas of Borno State.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said the curfew was declared following an explosion in the Kawori area of the state that led to the death of 16 persons.
The statement added that the police had held consultations with the State Governor Babagana Zulum and other critical stakeholders before arriving at the decision.
The police, while urging members of the public to remain law-abiding, promised that subsequent details would be communicated soon.
