EKOCITY MAGAZINE — Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni has said that anyone planning to join the anti-government rally planned by Nigerian music star, Innocent Idibia popularly known as Tuface Idibia will be protected and free to do so, Channels TV reports.
This is in reaction to an earlier report of a police ban on the protest.
In a live chat on Channels Television monitored by Ekocity Magazine on Friday, the Commissioner said he did not at any time say a rally cannot be held since he is not the convener of the rally.
“It’s the people that are planning the rally that can decide based on advisories as to whether they need to go on with the rally or not.
“I must emphasise here that the policing philosophy of the Inspector-General of Police that he has set out is for us to ensure that our policing conforms with international best practices, with observance of rule of law and of course to know that we are in a democracy.”
Mr. Owoseni said that the organisers and the protesters are free to exercise their fundamental human rights by engaging in the planned peaceful protest expected to take place in Lagos and some other major cities of the nation
“If they must exercise their rights, ours is to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.
“We are assuring the members of the public there won’t be any breakdown of law and order. Everyone in Lagos will be able to go about his or her business without hindrance,” he promised.
He added that both the planned pro and anti-government protests would be given the needed police protection without any breakdown of law and order.
“Pro (or) anti-government rally, the Police will ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order and that we manage it properly.
“This is not the first rally. There was one last month when another group marched from Yaba at the NLC secretariat to Ojota and it was done peacefully and well managed.
“We will continue to make sure that whoever wants to express his or her opinion does that under a peaceful atmosphere.”
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