Police warn against protest in Borno, say state under emergency

The Borno State Police Command, on Thursday, warned residents against taking part in the planned nationwide protest.

The command stated that the state of emergency on insecurity still in force in Borno automatically bans protests or any form of mass action.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Nahum Daso, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Yusufu Mohammed.

The police stated that it is aware that some “disgruntled unpatriotic individuals” are mobilising youths for a mass protest tagged #EndbadgovernmentinNigeria2024 through social media platforms and other publications.

“The police, as a civil and responsive institution, is not unaware of the fundamental human rights to peaceful procession by any group, but experience has shown that protests are often hijacked by mischievous and disgruntled individuals with ulterior motives.

“The general public should note that Borno State is still under a state of emergency, and therefore, the ban on any form of public procession in the state still subsists.

“The command is in active collaboration with other security agencies to nip in the bud any act of lawlessness,” the statement read.

While warning organisers and their sponsors to shelve their protest, the statement noted that efforts were ongoing to protect lives and property, adding that “unpatriotic and clandestine plans aimed at disrupting the relative peace enjoyed by the good people of the state, and any attempt to damage critical government and public infrastructure will be considered an act of terrorism.”

The CP equally appealed to parents and guardians to warn their wards not to be used by any group or individuals to disrupt the sustainable peace in the state, stating that “members of the public are advised to remain law-abiding and report any suspicious activities within their domain.”

The scheduled nationwide protest is expected to start on 1 August 2024.

The Federal Government, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the military have warned against the protest.