Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun held a virtual meeting on Tuesday with key members of the Take It Back Movement, including prominent lawyers Femi Falana (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN). The meeting, detailed in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, focused on the group’s planned nationwide protest, aiming to balance citizens’ safety with their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Egbetokun emphasised the importance of maintaining public order during the protests. He acknowledged the group’s right to demonstrate peacefully but stressed the Police Force’s role in facilitating these rights within legal limits. The IGP advised the movement to coordinate with State Police Commissioners to ensure the safety of participants and the general public while preventing security challenges.
“To this end, the IGP has advised the Take It Back Movement, which has indicated its intention to protest, to engage with the respective State Police Commissioners to coordinate and plan the protests in a manner that ensures the safety of participants and the general public, while pre-empting any security challenges and ensuring that the protests proceed peacefully,” the statement said.
He recommended against unplanned open processions due to potential security risks. The IGP highlighted the importance of organizing and coordinating with police and security agencies to protect all citizens’ rights and well-being. The statement concluded with a call for stakeholders to work together to ensure a peaceful and secure environment during the protests.