From Our Correspondent
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi said the command is ready to provide adequate protection for peaceful and lawful protesters in the state.
Sonubi stated this yesterday during a stakeholders meeting in Ibadan on the command’s preparations for the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1.
The commissioner, who said the police acknowledges the undebatable right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, which must not turn violent, adding that it is imperative for those carrying out the protest to ensure that it is peaceful and violence-free.
He said the command is prepared to give adequate protection to those carrying out peaceful protests and would not hesitate to deal with anyone who turns to violence.
“When a protest turns violent, it is criminal to the police at that point and we will need to deal with the situation as it arises.
“There is no law enforcement agency that will allow criminality to have its way. The moment it turns violent, the law will turn its face and act appropriately,” Sonubi said.
The meeting was attended by religious leaders, traditional rulers, transport unions, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, among others.
