FCT police deploy 4,200 officers for August 1 protest

The police command in the federal capital territory (FCT) has deployed 4,200 officers ahead of a nationwide protest scheduled for August.

Tagged ’10 Days of Rage’ by organisers, the marches will reportedly commence on August 1.

In a statement on Friday, Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, said the deployment of the officers is “aimed at ensuring public safety, protection of protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors”.

Adeh said Benneth Igweh, FCT police spokesperson, has assured residents that officers will protect lives and property and not condone violence.

She urged residents to report any suspicious movements and remain vigilant.

“The FCT Police Command, in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship, has proactively deployed material and human resources at the command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital,” the statement reads.

“The proactive deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protection of protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol and synergy with sister security agencies.”

Federal and state governments, including President Bola Tinubu, have appealed to youths to shelve the protest.

Religious and traditional institutions have also called for the cancellation of the planned demonstration.

The military and Department of State Services (DSS) said there are indications that the protest would be hijacked by hoodlums.