Nigeria Police Denies Banning Peaceful Rallies

The Police High Command says that contrary to the announcement made by its Abuja Command yesterday, it has not banned peaceful assemblies or protests anywhere in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by spokesman Frank Mba, the Police said it only issued an “advisory notice” by which it urged citizens to apply caution in the said rallies, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs. The statement said the advisory was on the basis of current security challenges in the country, coupled with a recent intelligence report of a likely infiltration and hijack of otherwise innocuous and peaceful protests by some criminal elements having links with insurgents. It said the Police High Command regards peaceful rallies as the constitutional and democratic rights of Nigerians, and that the Inspector-General of Police, M D. Abubakar, stresses that rally organizers should seek proper advice and guidance from the Police before engaging in any such exercise “so as to avoid any unpleasant circumstances.” “The IGP calls on the general public to see the present position of the Force as a necessary sacrifice for the peace our nation needs, as security is a collective responsibility,” the statement said. “Consequently, citizens are strongly advised to reconsider their positions on the issues of rallies and protests in FCT until the existing threats are appropriately neutralized and removed from our midst by relevant security agencies,” the statement said. Analysts say that today’s announcement reflects the continuing chaos within Nigeria’s security agencies, with some key players trying to satisfy their political paymasters. Yesterday, the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mbu Joseph Mbu announced the ban on protests in the area advocating the release of the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram almost two months ago. According to Mr. Mbu, “What was banned is the #BringBackOurGirls protest; and it was banned in order to forestall breakdown of law and order in Abuja”. Mbu was previously in the middle of the political crisis in Rivers State, where he carried out the orders of First Lady Patience Jonathan.
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