Organizers reject IGP proposal for confined protests, insist on street processions – TrendyNewsReporters

Organizers of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance demonstrations scheduled for August 1 have rejected a proposal by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to hold contained protests.

In a meeting with organizers on Tuesday, July 30, the IGP suggested limited protests at identified locations and advised against street gatherings. Egbetokun said some people calling for violence during the upcoming protests had been arrested. He warned against street marches which he said could be hijacked by fifth columns and enemies of the state.

“It is not advisable to participate in street marches because while planning a protest, some people plan violence,” the IGP advised.

“Confining peaceful protesters to specific locations will help us a lot.
However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer with the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organising the nationwide protests, rejected the IGP’s proposal.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), other lawyers, civil society organisations and some initiators of the planned protests also attended the virtual meeting and rejected the restrictions on movement.
Adegboruwa highlighted some of the points where the protests converged: Eagle Square, Abuja; Alausa Park, Lagos; Akpakpava Lane, Benin City; School of Agriculture, Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite the State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium, River and Freedom Park, Osogbo.

Following the IGP’s proposal, Adegboruwa said there would be street marches before protesters would gather at specific locations reported to the police.

Egbetokun later said that the police would provide security cover to protesters in confined spaces sent to the Force Headquarters.
“I will not be able to guarantee the safety of your members if you embark on street marches,” the IGP said. “I believe a peaceful protest in a confined space will be safe,” he warned.