The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has banned any form of protest bordering on insecurity and hike in food prices.
The force said such gathering will be “vehemently resisted” by its men should “unscrupulous elements” troop out to remonstrate against the authorities.
Specifically in Osun, the state command of the force, citing intelligence reports, warned residents to shelve their plan to take to the streets because what they are passing through is not odd to them alone.
“The intelligence availed the command revealed that some unscrupulous elements are planning to embark on unlawful gathering/protest,” Osun police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said in a statement Tuesday. “This protest is to show their grievances concerning an ill-conceived perception of insecurity and hike in food prices, allegedly in the state.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, therefore wishes to advise that this unlawful plan be jettisoned. The CP warned that the state police command would not condone any act(s) that will jeopardise the existing relative peace and tranquillity presently enjoyed in the state.
“It should be noted that the spate of insecurity presently experienced is nationwide and not peculiar to Osun. Be reminded also that gathering of any sort is unlawful and a violation of COVID-19 laws.
“The CP, therefore, appeals to all parents and guardians to warn their children and, or wards to desist from any act(s), capable of causing the breach of peace in the state.
“The command will not tolerate deliberate blocking of roads to impede free-flow of human and vehicular movements, molestation of peace-loving members of the public, and willful/malicious destruction of any kind whatsoever,” the command added.
