In what may be seen as an intimidating move, the FCT Police Command announced Friday it has deployed at least 4,200 personnel to various strategic locations in Abuja ahead of the planned nationwide protests.
FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh said in a statement on Friday that the proactive deployment is aimed at ensuring “public safety, protection of protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors”.
According to her, the command proactively deployed material and human resources at its disposal across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital to prevent lawlessness.
The PPRO noted that the deployment was characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordinance devices, EOD experts and personnel at various strategic locations.
“Additionally, operatives will conduct raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings, and shanties. They will also engage in stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and maintain synergy with sister security agencies.
“The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, while acknowledging the residents’ right to protest, advises that protests should remain peaceful.
“The CP vows to resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, as the police will not be stampeded into allowing the destruction of public and private properties or loss of lives, she said in the statement.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY reproeted that Nigerian youths have scheduled August 1 to 10 for nationwide protests to express their anger over unprecedented hunger and hardship in the country.
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