Police deploy anti-riot squad to stop NLC protests today

In advance of today’s nationwide protest called by the Nigeria Labour Congress against the nation’s economic crisis, the Nigeria Police Force has stationed anti-riot operatives in key areas.

On Monday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesman, clarified that police officers had been put on red alert.

The Trade Union Congress and sixty-five civil society organizations rejected the demonstration, and the President and law enforcement officials had sent a warning to the NLC on Sunday not to proceed.

However, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the demonstration would proceed as scheduled, basing his decision on the nation’s economic circumstances and hardships.

The NLC is voicing its disapproval of the government for allegedly failing to carry out the agreements that were struck between the parties on October 2, 2023, after the gasoline subsidy was removed.

The choice was made after the Federal Government was given a 14-day ultimatum to take action against the severe hardship that the nation was experiencing.

Adejobi, however, said in a statement that state commissioners of police had been instructed to defend the demonstrators by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

He reaffirmed the police’s dedication to upholding the rights of citizens and their ability to demonstrate.

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In the statement, Adejobi stated that although the police acknowledged the significance of the demonstration, they were on guard to thwart any attempts to turn them into a political platform. He said that officers would also put an end to any attempts to incite disturbance because they would not stand for a breakdown of law and order.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains vigilant against any attempts to hijack such protests by individuals or groups of persons with sinister intents,” he said, acknowledging the value of nonviolent protest.

The force is, therefore, categorically ready to react, in the event of any unlawful activity or violent act, immediately and decisively in order to protect public safety, security, and peace.

“It is imperative to emphasize that law enforcement agencies have extended their reach across the nation to thwart any attempts by certain individuals to exploit the nationwide demonstrations for provocative purposes. Such actions will be met with sanctioned legal and proportionate force, as the police will not tolerate the wanton collapse of law and order, loss of life and property, as we have, on occasion, in the past, in certain regions of the nation,” Adejobi said.

The statement said, in part, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby affirms the fundamental right of all residents of the country to engage in peaceful protest in accordance with existing laws, in response to the Nigeria Labour Congress’s intended statewide protest.

As a result, the NPF reaffirms its dedication to guaranteeing the freedom and rights of demonstrators.

“The Nigeria Police Force has deployed personnel nationwide and put them on red alert to monitor the scheduled protest in accordance with its legal duty to maintain peace and order.

“If the protests proceed as scheduled, all commissioners of police and their corresponding supervising officers have been informed and instructed to coordinate the officers on the ground in ensuring the safety and security of all participants.”

The police commands of Delta, Benue, and Niger State have convened with labor leaders to devise a plan for a smooth and non-violent rally.

In compliance with the IG’s directive, Delta State’s Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, has ordered a major troop deployment throughout the state to guarantee proper security and safety during the demonstration.

“Anyone found wanting will be immediately arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the CP warned all planned protestors, according to a statement released on Monday by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe.

According to the statement, area commanders, tactical commanders, and divisional police officers were instructed by the CP to take action to prevent a breakdown in law and order.

It said, “On February 22, 2024, the CP held stakeholder meetings with the leaders of the NLC, TUC, and IPMAN to explore strategies for ensuring a peaceful protest as part of measures to guarantee that the protest runs smoothly.

The CP reaffirmed that a citizen’s right to protest is a right to peaceful protest, but it also said that the police have a fundamental duty to preserve life and property, including the safety of demonstrators. Protesting in a violent manner is illegal and will not be accepted.

“The State Intelligence Department has been directed by the CP to send out undercover agents who will monitor and report back findings.”

Additional personnel, according to Edafe, had been pulled from a number of tactical units, including the Department of Operations, area commands and divisions; the Safer Highway, Dragon Patrol, Safe Delta, Raiders Unit, Rapid Response Squad, Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, CD-Decoy, CP Monitoring Unit, State Anti-Cult Unit, Crack Squad, X-Squad, and the Department of Operations.

In a related move, the leadership of the labor leaders met separately on Monday with the Niger State police command and the Department of State Services on the protest.

The necessity of a nonviolent demonstration was emphasized by state commissioner of police Shawulu Danmamman during the meeting at police headquarters.

The DSS advised the labor leaders not to go on strike and threatened to hold them accountable for any security lapse during the demonstration, according to state NLC Chairman Idrees Lafene, who verified the parleys.

Wasiu Abiodun, a spokesman for the command, said in a statement that the police have increased security and sent out tactical units throughout the state.

Additionally, he said that enhanced security measures had been implemented in the vicinity of government buildings, banks, police stations, and other vital public facilities.

“Despite having the right to peaceful protest, which the police must protect, the protesters must ensure that all processions are conducted within the ambit of the law,” Abiodun warned organized labor.

He asserts that the demonstrators must respect the rights of others in the course of expressing their own.

“They have to behave in a very polite and non-raucous manner because the police will be present to provide security and apprehend any individual or group that tries to use this as a means of causing a public disturbance.”

Abiodun also pleaded with guardians and parents to caution their children against using violence while protesting.

In a similar event, the Bayelsa State Police declared that they would guard public property throughout the demonstration and make sure that it wasn’t taken over by thugs.

In a statement released on Monday by the command spokeswoman, Musa Mohammed, under the heading “CP deploys police personnel and assets across the state,” Commissioner of Police Alonyenu Idu declared that he had given the go-ahead for a major deployment of police assets throughout the state.

The deployment is meant to prevent thugs from taking over the rally. In a conversation with the divisional police officers, area commanders, and tactical commanders, the CP gave them instructions on how to put in place safeguards against any potential collapse of the law.

The statement stated, “On February 26, 2024, the CP held a stakeholder meeting with the leaders of NLC and TUC to discuss measures to achieve a peaceful protest as part of the measures to ensure that the protest is hitch-free.”

Idu stated that just as the police had a duty to safeguard people and property “by regulation and social harmony,” so too did citizens have the right to peaceful protest.

He threatened to “restrain and arraign before the court for prosecution anyone who tries to turn the protest from its peaceful intent to violence.”

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The police commissioner gave everyone the assurance that as long as law enforcement was in place to ensure social peace and stability in the state, people could go about their legal business without fear of intimidation or harassment.

Speaking about the planned demonstration, Ejire-Adeyemi Adetoun, the public relations officer for the Kwara State Police, also revealed that the command will mobilize personnel to ensure a nonviolent demonstration.

Terungwa Igbe, the chairman of the Benue State NLC, revealed that labor leaders met with the DSS and police on Monday in order to prepare today’s protest.

“We’re at the police headquarters right now,” said Makurdi. We accepted their invitation and came here as a result. He stated, “We just wrapped up with DSS and are now at police headquarters,” but he would not reveal the contents of the discussions.

The NLC chapters in Ogun, Plateau, and Sokoto announced that they had organized their members for the rally, which they stated will go ahead as scheduled, in an effort to guarantee a sizable turnout.

NLC Chairman for Ogun State Hammed Ademola-Benco declared that the union would proceed with the scheduled demonstration.

He clarified that the workers would remain be at their respective duty posts and that only the leadership of the 40 affiliates would be taking part in the event.

“The protest rally is to further draw the government’s attention to the issues of hunger, insecurity, and the ongoing rise in poverty throughout the nation,” he said.

“We have already dispatched our letters urging the union’s forty affiliates to participate in the march. Employees will continue to report to work as usual; this is not a strike.

“We have been assured that there would be police presence during the demonstration. By God’s special mercy, we are able to move forward without any issues with the security agencies and a governor who is very understanding.

The Plateau State NLC also declared that it was prepared for the demonstration and that its members couldn’t wait to take to the streets.

Eugene Mangji, the state congress chairman, also said that the state’s labor leaders met with police officials on Monday.

Mangji declared, “We will carry out the scheduled protest, so we don’t have any issues here in Plateau regarding it. The cops have not blocked up our NLC secretariat.

As per Abdullahi Jungle, the chairman of the NLC Sokoto State branch, the group is prepared to voice disapproval of the nation’s economic circumstances.

Through Hamisu Hussain, his secretary, Jungle stated that the union met with the security services to decide on the specifics of the demonstration.

As you can see, we had just returned from a discussion on our planned protest at the DSS and police commissioner’s offices.

By the special grace of God, he continued, “We have talked with them and they too have agreed with us on the modalities. We’ll start the protests tomorrow (today).”

Ahead of the march, CP Adegoke Fayoade met with representatives from many security agencies in Lagos to plan, while NLC spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin refuted rumors that the police had locked down the organization’s secretariat.

According to Hundeyin, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, the CP addressed demonstrators at the NLC secretariat on Monday and provided justification for the increased security in areas of Lagos on that day.

In anticipation of the organized labor group’s planned protest, heavily armed police officers were spotted in Lagos, specifically at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, and other locations.

Less than twenty-four hours before to the demonstration, the Trade Union Congress reiterated that it was not a part of the protest that the NLC had announced for today.

In a letter dated February 19, the labor center stated that neither union made the decision to demonstrate on February 27 and 28, as declared by the NLC, jointly.

During a news conference in Abuja on Monday, TUC President Festus Usifo responded to inquiries about the planned protest by saying, “When you agree jointly that is the way to go and along the line, you now decide that you are not doing it again.”

“Comrades, can any of you demonstrate to us where there is a consensus for our joining forces? You always see us jointly addressing you when we are working together. Did you observe any TUC members there on that specific day?”

on order to lessen the impact of suffering on the nation, the legislature also requested the federal government to order the importation of food goods.

“National pride of striving to achieve food sufficiency locally should be temporarily relaxed,” the president continued.

“Nigerians need to live to see tomorrow before we can truly appreciate the beauty of a government policy,” he counseled.

“All levels of government should buy enough food products from around the globe right away and distribute them to Nigerians who are in need.

“At this time, food imports from overseas will help to lessen the hyperinflation of food in the nation. Within the next two weeks, FG should permit the importation of food products for Nigerian use.

A new minimum wage law that takes into account the current state of the economy was also demanded by the TUC leadership.

He said the economic team of the Federal Government should aim for a more realistic naira to dollar exchange rate, which they currently have set between N500 and N800.

Concurrently, a coalition of civil society organizations operating under the Labour Civil Society Front have proclaimed their endorsement of the demonstration.

In opposition to the “unmitigated sufferings and impoverishment of Nigerians foisted by the mindless implementation of dehumanizing policies of the government,” the CSOs asked their members and supporters across the nation to join the demonstration.

The group made it clear that it had no political or racial motivations for participating in the demonstration.

This was stated in a statement released on Monday and co-signed by Chris Nwakobia, the convener of the Country First Movement, Nkoyo Toyo, the spokeswoman for the LCSF, and Hamisu San Turaki of the United Action Front of Civil Society.

The coalition said in the joint statement that it was endorsing the protest in order to force the government to act immediately on a number of issues, including widespread crimes and kidnappings for ransom, the high cost of healthcare services and medications, and the general insecurity of Nigerian lives and property.

The statement said in part, “We are once again compelled to state unequivocally that we are unwavering in our support to organized labor and, as a result, fully endorse the nationwide mass protest on hardship slated to hold on Tuesday, February 27 and Wednesday, February 28, 2024. The Labour – Civil Society Front is a coalition of eminent civil society leaders and groups collaborating with the Labour movement on pro-people, pro-poor issues in Nigeria.

Therefore, in order to bring the government’s attention to the immense suffering and impoverishment that Nigerians are subjected to as a result of the thoughtless implementation of dehumanizing economic policies by governments at both the national and sub-national levels of the nation, we implore our teeming members and allies throughout Nigeria to join and fully participate in the peaceful national protest.

“This is the time, in our opinion, to urge President Tinubu’s administration to stop this preventable downward trend, act in the general interest of the people by paying attention to their demands, and take immediate, constructive action that goes beyond a myriad of erratic cosmetic remedies to its fundamental duty to safeguard lives and property and guarantee the welfare and well-being of all citizens.”