Protest: Police, soldiers, others unite to maintain peace in Ondo

With less than 24 hours to the planned nationwide protest, security personnel in Ondo State have urged youths and residents to maintain peace and avoid a repeat of the EndSARS and Kenya protest violence.

Speaking on behalf of the security agencies, Commissioner of Police Abayomi Oladipo assured that security personnel are on high alert and fully deployed to ensure peace in the state.

At a press briefing in Akure, Oladipo emphasized that security agencies will not allow the protest to descend into chaos and confusion, and will protect public property.

Although no group has formally notified the security agencies of their intention to protest, Oladipo assured that they are prepared to respond and provide adequate security in the state.

He said, "What we are saying is that we should allow peace to reign in Ondo state, as it stands today in Ondo State, there have not been any group of persons who have indicated interest to participate in the protest in line with a virtual meeting held by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun that they should document their presence, locations with the police with the purpose of providing them adequate security for them to ventilate their concerns.

"We are all aware of what is on ground in the country as relates to protest by the citizens of this country titled, "EndBadGovernance", which is billed to start from August 1st to 10th. We are on the frontline and I want to let you know that protest is a fundamental right in any democracy and no responsible government will want to take away the right under section 40 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

"The citizens have the right to freely assemble and ventilate their concerns as to how they have governed.

"However, other Nigerians that are not interested in being part of the protest have their rights as well to freedom of movement. We all have the right and that right must be protected by the two sides.

"We have the mandate to protect all citizens and residents of this country by ensuring that those who are going to embark on lawful peaceful protest are protected from being infiltrated by hoodlums who may want to hijack or take advantage of the protest to create confusion and mayhem in the state

"I want to say that there is a line in peaceful and violent protest, we have the mandate to protect and maintain public order. It is not police business alone, there is synergy between all the security agencies to ensure that EndSars and Kenya experience is not reenacted in this country.

"We would not allow the situation to degenerate into confusion that property and public infrastructure would be destroyed. We want to use this opportunity to assure the citizenry, both the residents and indigenes of Ondo state that we are prepared to protect them against any violence.

"In case you have information as to activities of any persons to create confusion, people should be free to pass the information to all the security agencies in the state so that we can adequately respond to such situations.

"We want to advise and appeal to traditional rulers, labour unions leaders to appeal to their people to allow peace to reign in this country, we have any other country that we can call our own than Nigeria.

"We are not taking it for granted, because people have not indicated interest, but we want to say that peaceful protest will be allowed. We must allow peace to reign. We should all be rest assured that we will provide adequate security for all citizens."