The Federal government has moved to halt the planned #Fearless October 1 nationwide protest.
Africa Health Report gathered on Friday that the Presidency said it is talking with the organisers of the protest with a view to reaching an understanding with them before October 1.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while answering journalists, said the security agencies are already engaging some of the organisers.
“Government is not against any peaceful protest by Nigerians. After all, it is their fundamental right to stage any protest.
“But government is always apprehensive about such protests degenerating into a riot as we experienced in August or the 2020 EndSARS protest in many parts of the country.
“Security agencies have been discussing with some of the organisers and they are being monitored so that they do not plunge the country into chaos or allow themselves to be used by internal and external forces which want to subvert the country and the 16-month-old administration”, Onanuga said.
Onanuga added that the Tinubu administration has always acknowledged the difficulties citizens are facing, adding that hard times are transient as the economic reforms being implemented have started to yield dividends, based on economic indicators published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
“The government wishes to assure Nigerians that there is already light at the end of tunnel and seeks the patience and understanding of our compatriots,” he said.
The organisers, however, insist that the protest would hold and that there is no going back.
One of the organisers, Omoyele Sowore, who has been at the forefront of calls for the planned mass action, said: “I can tell you that there will be protests. I can also confirm to you that I will be out there on the protest lines, joining my voice to that of other Nigerian patriots, to denounce the anti-people policies of this government”.
In the maintime, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun in a wireless message, has charged the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in zones and commissioners of police to take necessary steps to forestall any break down of law and order.
The IG specifically ordered the AIGs and CPs to order their men to be kitted in camouflage with ballistic hat in order to show that they are battle-ready to forestall any unwanted occurrence.
Similarly, Egbetokun ordered those in intelligence departments to continue carrying out covert operations regarding the activities of suspected hoodlums and miscreants who may want to destroy lives and property.
The signal read: “NIGERIA’S 64TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS PLANNED NATIONWIDE STRIKE BY SOME UNSCRUPULOUS ELEMENTS, INGENPOL HAS ORDERED X YOU CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN MEETINGS/DIALOGUE WITH LEADERSHIP OF IDENTIFIED GROUPS TO DISSUADE THEM FROM THE PLANNED PROTEST DEPLOY COVERT OPERATIVES TO ALL NOOKS AND CRANNIES YOURS X FOR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING/SHARING ALL NECESSARY MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN PARTICULARLY DURING THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS X TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING UNTOWARD IS ALLOWED.
“ANY ATTEMPT BY MISCREANTS/HOODLUMS TO ENGAGE IN DESTRUCTION OF LIVES AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE PROMPTLY RESISTED. COMPOLS SHOULD DIRECT OFFICERS/MEN TO BE AT RED ALERT MAINTAIN WELL KITTED STANDBY MEN AT COMMAND HQTS, AREA COMMANDS X DIVISIONAL POLICE HQTS, TO FORESTALL ANY BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER MODE OF DRESS CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM WITH HAT TACTICAL UNITS TO USE BALLISTIC HELMETS WHILE PERSONNEL FOR COVERT OPERATIONS X OTHER SPECIALIZED SECTIONS X SHOULD APPEAR IN THEIR APPROVED DRESS/UNIFORM X W.E.F MONDAY 30/09/2024 TILL STAND DOWN ORDER IS GIVEN. ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT AND ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE PLEASE.” (With Agency Additional Report)
