What IGP told Us at Meeting About Hunger Protest by Inibehe Effiong Esq

I attended an ‘interesting’ meeting called by the Inspector General of Police to discuss the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests scheduled to commence on August 1.

The meeting also had in attendance the Force PRO, Falana SAN, Adegboruwa SAN and some other civil society leaders and activists.

The meeting was held virtually this afternoon and had about 16 attendees. 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 (TIB).

It became necessary to invite other groups and individuals for a broader discussion.

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.

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.

My final contribution was to remind the IGP to be mindful of the fact that there have been IGPs before him, and that he should be thinking about legacy and his place in history, and that if this protest is peaceful, history will remember him for his role, but that if anyone is killed by the police, it will also be recorded for him as his legacy.

My deductions are:

1. The IGP assured that security will be provided to protesters who are gathered at the venues that have been communicated to the IGP and CPs.

2. The police has not taken threats made by government sponsored thugs against peaceful protesters seriously.

3. The police has accepted that there is nothing that can stop the protest from taking place.

4. The IGP said that the military will not be deployed during the protests, but that they may be invited if there’s violence that the police cannot control.

5. I am encouraging people to write to the CPs in the various States and notify them of the places they want to converge.

6. Rallies and marches should be done in a coordinated manner.

History will vindicate the just.