. Police declare action ‘ill-timed, mischievous’
Nigeria Police Force, the Take It Back Movement and groups may clash over a planned nationwide protest schedule for Monday, April 7, 2025.
As the TIB and other organisers of the planned protest continue preparations for the action, the Police on Sunday issued a warning to them to shelve their plans.
It noted that such a nationwide protest at this time was “ill-timed and mischievous.”
The police warned that such a nationwide protest by TIB and others would not be allowed on day the Federal Government had set aside as the National Police Day to celebrate officers and men of the Force.
Already, TIB and other civil society organisations and groups have concluded plans to stage the scheduled nationwide protest on Monday.
National Coordinator of TIB, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the nationwide protest is aimed at addressing issues surrounding the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
But the Nigeria Police, in a statement on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, advised TIB and other groups to “shelve this planned protest as it is ill-timed and mischievous”.
According to the FPRO, the scheduled date has been earmarked by the Federal Government as the National Police Day, “to celebrate the resilience and dedication of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.”.
The statement added that “While not against the exercise of citizens right to peaceful assembly and association in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned about the motive behind such protest scheduled on the same day the contributions of the Nigeria Police Force to national security is to be celebrated, putting into consideration that such glamorous event would bring together dignitaries from all spheres of life both internationally and within the country, including Foreign Inspectors-General of Police and Diplomats.
“The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to adequately carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Law and respect for rights of citizens hereby urges all the organizers of the planned protest as well as individuals who intend to join the protest to pursue dialogue by engaging the proper institution of government to press home their demands.”
