IGP Orders Nationwide Protection for #EndBadGovernance Protesters

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a directive to ensure the safety of participants in the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protests, set to take place from August 1 to 10, 2024. The directive was issued in response to a request from human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, representing the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organizing the protests.

In a letter dated July 29, 2024, and signed by the IGP's Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, Egbetokun instructed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, and Commissioners of Police across Nigeria to provide necessary protection for the #EndBadGovernance protesters. This decision aims to ensure that the demonstrations proceed peacefully and without incident.

Adegboruwa had formally requested police coverage for the protests on July 26, 2024, citing the need for protection amid concerns about economic hardship and governance issues. In response, the IGP not only granted the request but also scheduled a meeting with Adegboruwa at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on July 30, 2024, to discuss further arrangements.

The planned protests have gained significant traction on social media, reflecting widespread public dissatisfaction with the current economic and political situation in Nigeria. The IGP's decision to provide police protection underscores the importance of upholding citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and expression.