Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
The planned protest for Monday, August 5, 2019 organized by Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Yele Sowore, has been described as criminal, treason, felony and an act of terrorism by the Nigeria Police Force.
A statement signed by the spokesman of the NPF, Mr Frank Mba, warned organisers of the march to desist from going on with the demonstration or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
In the early hours of Saturday, Mr Sowore was picked up by men of the Department for State Services (DSS) at his Ikeja, Lagos residence and taken away to the agency’s office located at Magodo area of the metropolis.
In the statement issued on Saturday evening, the police said it would not fold its arms and allow a group of people overthrow a democratically elected government.
The proposed Monday protest is aimed to kick against the rampant insecurity in the country. In recent times, there have been high rates of killings by suspected herdsmen, bandits and kidnappings, which has made the country unsafe.
But the police said in today’s statement that it would not allow the demonstration go ahead as planned.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media by the ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria and others’, inciting Nigerians, home and abroad, to join a planned ‘revolution’ march against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, 5th August, 2019 with the sole aim of forcing a regime change in the country.
“The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the call amounts to treasonable felony and acts of terrorism and will therefore not stand idly-by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the land.
“While acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government which clearly is the meaning of ‘revolution’.
“Needless to state that Nigeria is a democratic republic and has well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.
“The Force therefore warns the organizers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathisers of the group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’ to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed “revolution”, as the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above planned criminal act.
“Parents and Guardians are therefore enjoined to impress on their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used in whatever form by any person or group of persons to cause breach of law and order in the country.
“The Police will work with other Law Enforcement Agencies and positive minded Nigerians to protect, defend and secure our public peace and space,” the statement read.
