Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered senior officers to protect protesters in the planned nationwide protest.
The nationwide protests over the economic hardship in the country have been slated for the first week of August.
The federal government and President Bola Tinubu have appealed to the youth to shelve the planned protest.
Recently, the Take-It-Back Movement, a pro-democracy group, notified the IGP of its plan to hold public meetings, rallies, and processions with other Nigerians.
In a letter to the IGP, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the group’s lawyer, requested police protection for the protesters.
Responding to the request in a letter dated July 29 and signed by Johnson Adenola, the IGP principal secretary, Egbetokun granted the request of the group for police protection.
The IGP asked Adegboruwa to meet with him at the police headquarters in Abuja to deliberate further on the request.
“I am to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request,” the letter reads.
“I am to also inform you that the Inspector-General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30th July, 2024, to deliberate further on your request.”
