Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has invited prominent human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa to a meeting at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting, scheduled for today, comes in response to Adegboruwa’s request for police protection for protesters.
“I am to also inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 to deliberate further on your request,” CP Adenola said in a letter to Adegboruwa.
In the letter dated July 29, 2024, signed by the IGP’s Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, Egbetokun directed senior police officers, including Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and Commissioners of Police overseeing State Commands nationwide, to address the lawyer’s request.
Adegboruwa’s appeal for police protection is seen as a precautionary measure amid concerns that planned protests could escalate similarly to the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020.
Both the police and other security agencies, including the military and the Department of State Service, have issued warnings against protests resembling the recent demonstrations in Kenya.
Despite appeals from politicians urging youths to abandon the planned rallies, many young people remain determined to proceed with the protests.
The scheduled meeting between the IGP and Adegboruwa is expected to focus on ensuring the safety and security of all involved. As the situation develops, all eyes are on today’s deliberations, which may significantly impact the handling of the upcoming protests.
