As the organisers of the nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country insisted on going ahead with the protest on Thursday as planned, security forces have intensified deployment of their personnel and equipment nationwide to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.
It was gathered that the Headquarters of the Security Forces located in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, again issued fresh operational orders to their State Commands and Zonal Headquarters with strict instructions to protect citizens, both private and public properties.
They have also placed their formations on red alert for easy mobilization in case of eventuality while issuances of passes or leaves are put on hold.
In his part, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Dr Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun a last-minute Zoom meeting with the strategic Commanders of the Force, the Commissioners in the State Commands, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIGs in the zones, Political Mobile Force, MPF, and other police formations nationwide
It was gathered that the trust of the meeting was the protest must be handled professionally since the organizers have insisted on going ahead with the protest.
The IGP in the frantic efforts to persuade the organizers to halt the protest on Tuesday met with Chief Femi Falana, SAN, Ebun Adegoruwa SAN, and others with no fruitful result.
In Abuja ahead of the protest, security has been increased at the entry and exit roads into the federal Capital City with Armed soldiers, Police mounting checkpoints.
At the popular Eagle Square already picked for the venue of the protest, security forces have taken over the place, declaring It a Security Zone.
The organizers are insisting that Eagle Square “is public property and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has no choice but to allow “hungry Nigerian youths” demonstrate their displeasure on the facility.
This was in response to the Minister’s stand that Eagle Square would not be available for such an unproductive venture and advised them to keep off from the city and its suburbs.
However, as at the press time, there’s high presence of armed security personnel from the various services including the Department of State Services, DSS, at virtually all the nooks and crannies of the Nation’s capital city.
