IGP orders protection for #EndBadGovernance protesters

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has directed senior police officers to protect participants in the planned #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024.

IDOMA VOICE reports that Egbetokun issued this directive in response to a request from human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa. Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had written to the IGP on July 26, 2024, requesting police coverage for the protesters on behalf of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organizing the protest.

In a response letter dated July 29, 2024, Egbetokun directed senior police officers to attend to Adegboruwa’s request. The response, signed by Principal Staff Officer CP Johnson Adenola, also included a request for a meeting between Egbetokun and Adegboruwa in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to further discuss the request.

The letter states, “I am to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request. I am to also inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30th July, 2024 to deliberate further on your request.”

The protest, aimed at addressing economic hardship, has been gaining traction on social media and is scheduled to take place across all states of the Federation, including the nation’s capital, in August.