#EndBadGovernance: IGP Directs Police Leadership to Safeguard Protesters Nationwide
By Omowumi Omotosho
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has instructed senior police officials to ensure the safety of participants in the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled from August 1 to 10, 2024. This directive was issued in response to a request from human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN .
Adegboruwa has formally requested police protection for the protesters on July 26, 2024. He made this appeal on behalf of the Take It Back Movement, one of the organizations behind the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Discussions about a nationwide protest to voice citizens’ dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation have been prevalent recently. Protesters are demanding an end to hunger, economic difficulties, and poor governance.
In response, the government has implemented various measures to either prevent the protest or ensure it remains peaceful. These measures include meetings with state governors, traditional leaders, and religious figures. Additionally, security agencies such as the Nigerian Army and the State Security Service have issued warnings, claiming to have identified the protestโs sponsors.
President Bola Tinubu has also advised citizens against participating, stating that the organizers are not acting in the nation’s best interest. Despite all consolidation made by government officials at various levels, it is observed that the protesters are not ready to disengage from the protest.
