Nigeria Planned Protests: Police To Crack Down On Troublemakers, Criticize Lack Of Organizer Information

The Take It Back Movement has come under criticism from Nigeria's police force for not providing them with details about the organizers of Thursday's #EndBadGovernance protest, which started on Aug. 1 and will continue till Aug. 10.

In a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said that he has instructed the police across the country to protect the people and property from harm, while dealing with any troublemakers.

"Regrettably, the organizers of the proposed protest have not deemed it necessary to supply the simple and basic information required by the Police, under the Constitution, the Police Act and all other enabling Laws in this regard," Egbetokun said.

"To this extent, the Nigeria Police still demands from the organizers of the proposed protest that they furnish it with the said essential information/details mentioned above before the commencement of the protest."

The police have warned that the protests might cause chaos, targeting citizens, businesses and government infrastructure, with Egbetokun adding the name "Take It Back Movement" suggests illegal and undemocratic intentions.

Nigeria's police force is required by the Constitution and other laws to address any acts of arson, intimidation, harassment, threats, or criminal behavior related to the planned protest, Premium Times reported.

Egbetokun instructed the police to take strong action against all criminal behavior and breaches of public peace during the protests. He added that anyone committing crimes will be arrested and prosecuted.

He emphasized that no responsible law enforcement agency would ignore a situation that could lead to disorder in the country. Therefore, all police forces nationwide have been alerted to protect people and property from attacks and damage.

Egbetokun's comments came a day after he held a virtual meeting with key activists and youth leaders across Nigeria, suggesting that they limit the protests to certain locations. The activists rejected his proposal.

Earlier this week, the Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province urged President Bola Tinubu, state governors and local government leaders to quickly address the severe hunger, high living costs, and ongoing insecurity issues in Nigeria.

While the bishops urged the officials to take a step towards helping Nigerians, they also noted that protests could not solve problems.