Police have Intelligence there will be breakdown of Law & Order, Loss of Lives If Tuface Protests takes place; Tuface insists on protests.

The Police headquarters in Abuja has waded into the Innocent Idibia, alias Tuface and the Lagos State Police Command controversy in the planned protest on the 6^th of February 2017 over the economic and social hardship in the country.

It said the Police High Command was in possession of credible intelligence showing that If the planned protests/ demonstrations are held as scheduled, there may be breakdown of law and order, with attendant loss of lives and property.

 In a statement on Friday, signed by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, the Police said the intelligence reports revealed that other interest groups are equally planning to hold counter protest/matches on the same days of 5^th and 6^th of February 2017 when Innocent Idibia, popular Nigerian musician plans to protest, at the same places/cities as the Tuface Group.

It said, “Innocent Idibia (a.k.a Tuface) and his group are hereby advised strongly to shelve their planned peaceful protest/demonstration in the interest of peace and security”.

 “That the other opposing groups are equally advised strongly to shelve its planned counter protest/demonstration in the interest of peace and security.

“And that the Nigeria Police Force is prepared to employ every possible legal means for the maintenance of law and order; and for the protection of lives and property.

The statement said, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publications in the media on the planned protests slated for 5th and 6^th February, 2017 in Lagos and other States by different groups, one to be led by the popular musician Innocent Idibia aka Tuface and other opposing groups.

“Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned with the security implications with regard to the planned protest/demonstrations, and  as  the lead security Agency in the country, is fully aware and recognizes the constitutional rights  of every citizen (including Tuface and his group) to assemble and move freely in any part of the country.

“In this regard, the Force is also cognizant of its constitutional responsibilities of taking any proactive/ preventive security measures; In the interest of public safety, public order, public morality or public health.

 “And for the purposes of protecting lives and property, as well as the constitutional rights and freedom of other citizens.

It continued, “The Nigeria Police Force is currently in possession of credible intelligence reports that other interest groups are equally planning to hold a counter protest/matches on the same days at the same places/cities as the Tuface Group.

“If these various planned protests/ demonstrations are held as scheduled, that there may be breakdown of law and order, with attendant loss of lives and property.

“To this end, the Nigeria Police Force deems it imperative to issue this press release:-

 “That Innocent Idibia (a.k.a Tuface) and his group are hereby advised strongly to shelve their planned peaceful protest/demonstration in the interest of peace and security.

“That the other opposing groups are equally advised strongly to shelve its planned counter protest/demonstration in the interest of peace and security.

“That the Nigeria Police Force is prepared to employ every possible legal means for the maintenance of law and order; and for the protection of lives and property.

“Consequently, members of the public, parents and guardians, religious/opinion leaders and other interest groups are strongly advised to prevail on their children and wards, followers and adherents not to allow themselves to be used by any group to cause disturbance of public peace and break down of law and order.”

In the meantime, there was indication Friday that the protests tagged: One Voice, One Nigeria were explicitly about Nigeria, interested participants were asked to put on green attires.

In several post to the effect that the protests would go on was given through a notice by a civil society organization, Enough Is Enough, EiE.

Tuface had explained that said the protests were meant to sensitize the Nigerian authorities over the increasing hardship in the country.

The insistence by Tuface generated so many comments on the social media from would-be protesters, who maintained that the grinding hardship in Nigeria made the protests inevitable.

  Contributors, who questioned the reasons adduced by the Police to stop the protests, insisted that it was the responsibility of the law enforcement agency to maintain law and order during the exercise.

 A few, who were less sympathetic to the protests, reminded the Police that the right to protest was inalienable.

They dismissed reasons given by the Police and pointed at past protests which held in the country without being stopped by the law.

 Lagos Police Commissioner, CP Fatai Owoseni had said that Tuface lacked the capacity to contain the kind of crowd the protests would attract.

 “We know that Tuface does not have the capacity to contain such a crowd and we will not fold our hands and watch while things go out of hand,” he said last Wednesday.

Instructively, Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution granted the freedom of expression, including the right to be heard and to disseminate information. Section 40 provides the freedom of association while Section 38 gave Nigerians the right to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly.

The Presidency on its part has said it was not against the right of Nigerians to stage peaceful protests.

 This was made known by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande.

Disclosing this on his Twitter handle, he said: “This administration will not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in peaceful protests’, it is a fundamental right of the people.

No government has ever laid out the kind of Social Investment Programme the Buhari government is now running across the nation that will touch millions.”

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