TheCable

The Nigeria police on Tuesday denied that it banned peaceful rallies anywhere in the country.

Rather, it said it only issued an advisory notice to protesters to “reconsider their position”.

Explaining the position of the police, Frank Mba, the force public relations officer, said that “the force has not issued any order banning peaceful assemblies/protests anywhere in Nigeria”.

“Against the backdrop of current security challenges in the country, coupled with a recent intelligence report of a likely infiltration and hijack of otherwise innocuous and peaceful protests by some criminal elements having links with insurgents, the police only issued advisory notice enjoining citizens to apply caution in the said rallies, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.”

Mba reminded citizens of the earlier position of the force on peaceful rallies, which the police high command regards as the constitutional and democratic rights of Nigerians.

“The inspector-general of police, MD Abubakar, stresses the need for the organisers of such rallies to ensure that they seek proper advice and guidance from the police before engaging in any such exercise so as to avoid any unpleasant circumstances,” he said.

“The IGP calls on the general public to see the present position of the force as a necessary sacrifice for the peace our nation needs, as security is a collective responsibility.”

He “strongly advised” citizens to reconsider their positions on rallies and protests in FCT “until existing threats are appropriately neutralised and removed from our midst by relevant security agencies.”

Joseph Mbu, the FCT commissioner of police, on Monday gave an order stopping #BringBackOurGirls rallies and protests with “immediate effect”, but leaders of the group responded on Tuesday with a court suit and the promise to continue pursuing their “peaceful advocacy”.