The FCT Police Command has deployed no fewer than 4,200 policemen following proposed nationwide protest by youths on social media.
The command said the deployment is in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship, has proactively deployed material and human resources at the command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital.
According to spokesperson of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, “proactive deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protection of protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol and synergy with sister security agencies.
“The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, while acknowledging the right of residents to protest, advises that it should be 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.
“Residents are also urged to be vigilant and take advantage of the Police emergency lines to report suspicious activities.”