We will manage planned nation-wide protests professionally—Inspector General Of Police promises response to August 1 protest

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Olukayode Egbetokun, has said the Nigeria police would respond to the August 1 planned protest by some Nigerians, “in a most professional manner.

Egbetokun said this on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers, consisting of officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police and above.

He said the meeting with the Strategic Police Managers was to share intelligence from the various Police Commands in the country and analyse same for the security of the country.

“So we are prepared and I want to assure you that we will manage the protest in the most professional manner,” he said.

Egbetokun was the ADC to Tinubu when he was Lagos state governor.

The I-G said the police would remain committed to providing security for those who would engage in peaceful protest.

“If the protest is peaceful, you will see us protecting the protesters as long as they remain peaceful.

“But we have a duty to protect lives and property, so we will not sit back and watch hoodlums burning down facilities in the name of protest.

“So we are not against peaceful protest, we will support peaceful protest by protecting those who will engage in peaceful protest,” he stated.

He said the task of maintaining law and order during the protest would not be a challenge if the protesters engaged in peaceful protest.