By MONDAY IJEH

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, has broken his silence on the August 1 planned “Hunger Protest” by some Nigerians, saying that the Nigeria Police would respond to it “in a most professional manner.”

Egbetokun said this on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers, consisting of officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police and above.

He said the meeting with the Strategic Police Managers was to share intelligence from the various Police Commands in the country and analyse same for the security of 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.

The I-G said the police would remain committed to provide security for those that would engage in peaceful protest.

“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,” he said.

He said the task of maintaining law and order during the protest would not be a challenge if the protesters engaged in peaceful protest.

According to him, it becomes a challenge if the protest is violent and I have always said that the right to protest is right to peaceful protest.

“No civilised society will tolerate violent protest. Violent protest is criminal, but peaceful protest is a right.”

The I-G, therefore, called on the youths in the country to ignore anybody inciting them to violent protest adding that, people have been calling on youths to come out to replicate what happened in Kenya.

He said Nigeria already had its fair share of violent protest in the country with the most recent being the “EndSars” protest.

He said Innocent lives were lost, public infrastructure destroyed, private businesses looted, jobs lost and many others consequences faced during the “EndSars” protest. (Adapted from a NAN report)