Crime
Naira, Petrol Scarcity: Kwara police ban protest, rallies
The Kwara Police State Command has temporarily banned any protest, rallies or unlawful processions as a result of the scarcity of petrol and new naira notes.
In a statement by Okasanmi Ajayi, police public relations officer, Kwara state, the ban became necessary after some protests turned violent.
The police stated that it understood citizens had a right to exercise their fundamental right but there were fears that the rallies could be hijacked.
“Kwara State Command wishes to inform the public of the ban on any form of unlawful protest, rally, or gathering in Kwara State,” the statement read.
“This order becomes inevitable owing to an intelligence report indicating that hoodlums have perfected plans to hijack any rally or procession and use the process to cause chaos and jeopardize the current fragile peace in the country and by extension, Kwara state.
“The Commissioner of Police of Kwara State, CP Paul Odama, who understands that it is constitutional for the citizens to protest peacefully, however, in a situation where such a protest or rally could be hijacked putting the lives and property of the people and government at risk would not be acceptable.
“This is a temporary ban to evaluate and access the security situation in the state.
“It is pertinent to also advise political party leaders to warn their supporters to desist from inciting and unguided statements on social, print and electronic media capable of inflaming crisis and heating of the polity.
“Consequently, aggressive patrols of the state and raids on criminal hideouts would continue as the command would do everything legally possible to ensure the safety and security of the good people of Kwara State,” the statement read.
