By Johnson Nwankwo
Plots to hijack the planned nationwide hunger protests in Enugu State have been uncovered, the state police command announced on Monday.
People&Politics reports that the protests, scheduled from August 1 to 10, are to express frustration of Nigerian youths in the harsh economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.
According to a release by the police public relations officer of the state command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, available intelligence ‘reveals the sinister plans of criminal elements to infiltrate, hijack the planned protest, and unleash mayhem on law-abiding citizens and property in the state’.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, in the release, warned against acts of violence and breach of public peace by individuals or groups in the name of protest.
Ndukwe stated that, “The intelligence shows that the hoodlums, as experienced during the violent ‘End SARS: protests, intend to attack fellow citizens, destroy public and private property, and perpetrate acts of looting.”
The CP, however, reiterated the collaborative commitment of the police and other security forces to deal decisively with such criminal elements.
The CP acknowledged the constitutional rights of citizens to lawfully assemble and express their grievances, but stressed that, “It will be completely unacceptable for them to allow such assemblies or protests to be hijacked and made to become violent, especially in these challenging times.”
He cautioned those intending to carry out the planned protests in Enugu State to find reasons to shelve the plans, given the available intelligence, and seek alternative peaceful means to express their grievances.
He however urged those that would carry out the protests to “strictly adhere to existing laws, particularly the Public Order Act’, adding that, “They must apply, stating their leaders, date, time, place of takeoff, and duration of the exercise, subject to thorough assessment and approval of such applications.”
Meanwhile, residents of Enugu State have been urged to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and promptly report to the nearest police station, criminals that may want to hide under the guise of the protest to wreak havoc; or alternatively, call the Command’s emergency numbers; 08032003702, 08098880172, or 08086671202, or send emails to infoenugupolice@gmail.com.
