Bennett Igweh, Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, has urged locals and indigenes to refrain from the nationwide protests.
A nationwide protest was planned for August 1st by certain groups and citizens in reaction to the nation’s economic difficulties.
However, in a Monday interview with journalists in Abuja, the FCT CP advised locals to avoid the protests.
He added that the protest might compromise the police’s considerable efforts to maintain security in the Federal Capital.
Igweh said, “I want to appeal specifically to the residents and indigenes and everybody in the FCT. Please, lions do not destroy their dens. You cannot see a lion who destroys its den. No, I would not like you to join this protest. I plead with you because we have worked hard to ensure your safety.
Igweh continued, saying that by building good roads, the government was trying to do its best.
“If you check, the government has provided good roads. Whether it’s from the minister of FCT or the president, check the streets in FCT, from Wuse to anywhere you can check, even in the hinterlands.
“They are trying their best. I don’t need to talk to anybody, but I’m saying it because we have been in the FCT. We know when there are changes. There are changes now in the FCT.
“And we don’t want miscreants outside the FCT to come and start destroying them. We will go back to square one where we were before. I plead, I beg of you, do not join this protest,” he added.
He pleaded with the people of the Federal Capital Territory to ignore the protest in order to keep the nation’s capital safe.
“Let us continue collectively to make the FCT safe. Let them go and do what they want to do. But not with us.
“Act maturely. Act maturely. Act like people who appreciate. Even the losses we have suffered to ensure your safety. Use it to appreciate us. If you do this, we will be happy. We will continue to provide security for you. God bless all of you,” he said.
