IGP Invites Adegboruwa to Meeting on Planned Hardship Protest

Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, has invited Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a human rights lawyer, to a meeting in Abuja.

Adegboruwa had written to the police chief requesting police protection for demonstrators.

In his response letter dated July 29, 2024, the IGP asked senior police personnel to comply with the senior lawyer’s request.

Egbetokun’s response was signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola.

The IGP also requested a meeting with Adegboruwa in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, “to deliberate further” on the issue.

“I am to notify you that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence),

The Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands around the country will respond to your request.

I am also to notify you that the Inspector General of Police desires to meet with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to further discuss your request,” CP Adenola stated.

The police, military, and Department of State Service have warned against Kenya-style protests. Politicians, fearful that the planned rally will turn up like the EndSARS demonstration in October 2020, continue to urge youths to cancel the planned protests, but the young people remain unconcerned, saying that the protest will go ahead.

The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining pace on social media, is slated to take place in all states of the Federation, as well as the nation’s capital, in August.

Prices of food and basic commodities have skyrocketed in recent months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic problems precipitated by the government’s dual policies of removing petrol subsidies and unifying FX windows.