The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the deployment of at least 4,200 personnel to strategic locations across the territory in preparation for the planned nationwide protests.
Nigerian youths have scheduled these protests from August 1 to 10 to voice their displeasure over hunger and hardship in the country.
According to a statement released on Friday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the Command has proactively allocated material and human resources throughout the capital to prevent lawlessness. This deployment aims to ensure public safety, protect protesters, and prevent the protests from being hijacked by non-state actors.
The police strategy includes visibility policing, deployment of explosive ordnance device (EOD) experts, and personnel at various key locations.
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The officers will also conduct raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings, and shanties, as well as carry out stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and collaborate with other security agencies.
Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, acknowledged the residents’ right to protest and urged that it remain peaceful. He emphasized that the police would resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, ensuring no destruction of public or private properties or loss of lives occurs.
