The Nigeria Police Force has advised the Take it Back Movement(TIB) and other organizers to shelve the planned nationwide protest scheduled for April 7.
The civil society organisation and other groups have concluded plans to stage a nationwide protest on April 7.
The protest, according to the National Coordinator of TIB, Juwon Sanyaolu, is aimed at addressing issues surrounding the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act and the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.
However, the Nigeria Police in a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, advised the organizers to “shelve this planned protest as it is ill-timed and mischievous”.
Adejobi said the scheduled date had been earmarked by the Federal Government as the National Police Day, “to celebrate the resilience and dedication of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force”.
“While not against the exercise of citizens right to peaceful assembly and association in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned about the motive behind such protest scheduled on the same day the contributions of the Nigeria Police Force to national security is to be celebrated, putting into consideration that such glamorous event would bring together dignitaries from all spheres of life both internationally and within the country, including Foreign Inspectors-General of Police and Diplomats.
“The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to adequately carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Law and respect for rights of citizens hereby urges all the organizers of the planned protest as well as individuals who intend to join the protest to pursue dialogue by engaging the proper institution of government to press home their demands,” the statement added.
