The Directorate of State Security, (DSS) has called on Organized Labour in Niger state not to join the nationwide protest scheduled to kick off today warning that the officials will be held responsible for any sort of breakdown of law and order in the state.

This warning was passed to officials of the Organized Labour when they were invited to the DSS office in Minna, the state capital yesterday.

However, the state Police Command in a separate invitation to its headquarters also in Minna, the state Capital yesterday advised the workers to be peaceful during the protest just as it promised adequate protection for them while the protest lasted.

It was gathered that the meeting at the Police Headquarters was presided over by the State Commissioner of Police Mr Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman emphasized the need for the protest to be peaceful and orderly.

As a follow-up, the state Police Command in a statement yesterday said it has directed its Department of Operations, Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders and DPOs to ensure visibility policing, deploy adequate Police personnel and operational assets to dominate public places and monitor situations through intelligence-led/visibility policing to avoid protest hijack/miscreants’ lawlessness.

The statement signed by the Commands Spokesman DSP Wasiu Abiodun also directed that critical infrastructures, government offices, banks, police stations and other public assets must be adequately protected for public safety during the protest.

“Despite having the citizen’s right of peaceful protest which the Police must protect, the protesters must ensure that all processions are conducted within the ambit of the law.

“In the process of exercising your rights, other people’s rights must not be violated and you must therefore conduct yourselves in a very civilized manner devoid of unruly character as the Police will be on ground to provide security and subdue anyone or group of persons who may want to use such avenue to cause breach of public peace,” the Police declared.

It then called on parents/guardians to warn their wards against any act of violence ahead, during and after the protest just as it also urged members of the public to be law-abiding and go about their lawful businesses.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Idris Lafene confirmed they were invited by the two security bodies separately but added that the protest continues.

“We are just coming from the meeting with the police and the DSS and the police promised to give us protection during the protest.

“We are going ahead with the protest. Everything is set as the protest will commence from the Labour House to the State House of Assembly and back, the NLC Chairman declared.

Lafene therefore called on workers and pro democracy activist and members of civil society organisations to turn out in their numbers for the protest. (Vanguard)

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