Bauchi: Be guided by law — Police to protesters ahead of NLC protest

The Bauchi State Police Command has warned protesters to be guided by the Law during the proposed national protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The command also said it has placed patrol teams on major parts of the city as part of efforts to ensure the security of residents.

While assuring adequate security for a hitch-free procession across the state, the command added that it would not spare any individual or group taking advantage of the protest to cause chaos.

SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the command's spokesperson made this known in a statement on Sunday in Bauchi.

According to Wakil, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed has equally urged parents, and guardians to caution their children against being used to jeopardize the relative peace enjoyed in the state. 

The statement partly reads: "The Command has taken into cognizance that every citizen has constitutional rights to peaceful protest, including legitimate Labour unions.

"The protesters are strongly warned to ensure all processions are conducted within the guidance of the law, as the command will exercise its full powers to ensure no rights of other citizens are violated.

"In this regard, the Command in conjunction with relevant security agencies in the state will not hesitate to subdue any individual or groups that may willfully hide behind these peaceful protests to cause havoc and breach of public peace and safety in the State.

"Similarly, any attempt by reckless miscreants or hoodlums to leverage these processions will be resisted in every manner humanely possible within the ambit of the law. 

"Lastly, the good people of Bauchi State are advised to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of harassment or molestation and as well, "say something, if you see something, for the Police to immediately do something."