Protest: IGP Refused To Speak On Thugs Threatening Lagos Residents – Inibehe

Human Rights Lawyer, Effiong Inibehe, said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, refused to speak on video of thugs threatening market women in Lagos against coming out for hunger protest in August.

Effiong Inibehe, who is one of the lawyers of Take It Back Movement – a Civil Society Organization (CSO) and one of the organizing CSOs for the protest, said this after a virtual meeting between Egbetokun and some organizers of the protest, on Tuesday.

According to Inibehe, the meeting had also in attendance, Force PRO – Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Femi Falana SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and some other civil society leaders and activists.

The meeting was convened by the IGP in response to the letter by Mr Adegboruwa to the IGP on behalf of the Take It Back Movement.

In a statement on his X handle, the human rights lawyer said, “When I was invited to speak, I asked the IGP specifically if he was aware of the trending video in circulation showing some thugs in Lagos threatening to unleash violence on protesters and warning people not to join the protest?

“I also asked him if he will direct the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to arrest the said thugs to serve as a deterrent to those who are planning to cause unrest. The IGP, sadly, did not address this particular question, despite that he was reminded of my question by other participants.”

Speaking further on discussions in the meeting, Inibehe said the IGP said police would not use force on peaceful protesters. He added that the IGP advised that protesters should be in a confined venue for police to guarantee adequate security.

According to him, Egbetokun said protesters who decide to move out of designated venue may not be protected by police personnel.

“The IGP also advised (or should I say took the position) that the protests should be confined to specific locations).

“This made me to ask the IGP directly if the police will disrupt any protest that is held outside the locations that have been communicated to him; given his advice that protesters should not embark on marches or rallies but should be restricted to identified venues.

“The IGP responded to me that there is no plan to disrupt rallies on the road or any protest held outside the ‘designated’ venues.

“However, he further indicated that the police cannot guarantee the security of protesters who are not confined to the locations that have been communicated to him or CPs in the various States,” he added.