President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has warned the Nigeria Police Force against attacking protesters as they take to the streets nationwide to express their displeasure at the government’s handling of the economy which has in turned increased inflation and worsened the standard of living.
In a poorly typed out message of X, Tinubu directed his message to the police, urging them to refrain from attacking protesters.
“Police do not attack protesters. Your children are involved. Your lives are involved. You children’s future lie here,” he wrote.
Chronicle NG reports that soldiers, police officers, and other security forces occupied Abuja’s iconic Eagle Square on Tuesday, which will host the #EndBadGovernance demonstration on Thursday in the Federal Capital Territory and other major towns.
About 300 security personnel where at the Eagle Square in addition to 26 military trucks, 12 police patrol vehicles, and a Black Maria.
The security personnel took control of the square after the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the organisers differed on how to conduct the demonstration.
In a virtual conference with the IG on Tuesday, the group rejected the police idea for constrained demonstrations.
Egbetokun has suggested that the organisers be limited to specific places for public safety reasons.
Pro-government groups are expected to stage counter-protests with fears that this could lead to clashed between rival group.
