Nigerians have historically been at the receiving end of harsh measures deployed by the Nigerian Police to manage protests by citizens, a carryover from the pre-colonial era when the British needed to stamp out any form of dissent against their unpopular rule. It appears the force is turning a new leaf.

Coming from the topmost echelon of the Nigerian Police Force, it must be reassuring to Nigerians aggrieved by the current government’s policies planning a 15-day protest, starting August 1. Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, says his men and women would respond to the protest in the most professional manner.

ALSO READ: e-CMR enforcement suspension by Nigerian Police gives motorists temporary relief

The vow was made yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with strategic police managers. The meeting was held to share intelligence from police commands in the country with a view to securing 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.

Coming against the background of police high-handedness whenever Nigerians ventilate their grievances against government policies, or indeed, powerful private interests, this is a huge departure. A welcome change. It shows that the police are evolving with the changing times. This assurance from the police honcho comes with a caveat, though: Protesters must be peaceful.

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, declared IG Egbetokun.

Although Nigeria’s constitution grants the right to assembly and opinions to Nigerians, and there have been several declarations by courts that the right to protest is enjoyed by Nigerians, the Police have always come down hard on Nigerians gathered to protest against perceived injustice or to air their grievances.

The government would claim that protests were hijacked by unknown persons to wreak havoc, thereby giving the police the alibi to mistreat protesters. These infiltrators, according to foremost lawyer Femi Falana, in an interview on Channels TV, have always been sponsored by the government to discredit legitimate protests.

The violence that characterised the end of the #EndSARS protest was instigated, fuelled and sponsored by the government. The government decided to unleash hoodlums and thugs on the young people. When that did not work, the government sent troops and soldiers to engage in the killing of young people. In one week, about 99 people were killed in Lagos. I don’t want to talk about Ogbomoso, Port Harcourt, Benin and other places where young people were shot at and killed, said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Dangote Refinery Saga Exposing Nigeria To 'Unbelievable' Ridicule, Says Falanahttps://t.co/bJUco6LhrZ pic.twitter.com/bGMi0r8tai

— Channels Television (@channelstv) July 24, 2024

IG Egbetokun went further to reiterate the right of Nigerians to protest when he said: I have always said that the right to protest is [the] right to peaceful protest. No civilised society will tolerate violent [protests]. Violent protest is criminal, but peaceful protest is a right. He urged young Nigerians to not listen to anyone inciting them to violent protests.

The promises made by IG Egbetokun must be quite reassuring to the people planning the protest, which is increasingly receiving widespread support despite gaslighting by government apologists.

ALSO READ: Nigeria’s inflation still monstrous

Although the demand being made by protesters is a growing list, it is fueled by the high cost of living occasioned by the twin policies of the current, which are the removal of subsidy on petrol and sharp devaluation of the naira.

The attendant inflation, according to the National Bureau of Statistics in its June update, is nearer 40 percent. Life is becoming tougher for Nigerians.

Adewole Ojo

Adewole Ojo is the Editor-in-Chief of Meiza Nigeria. He can be reached on adewole.ojo@fourpoints.ng.