As organised Labour prepares to embark on a mega protest against the subsidy removal on Wednesday, Bauchi State Police Command has warned that it will not allow the protest to snowball into violence.
This is a sequel to the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, “to engage in fruitful discussions with the NLC/TUC leadership to foster understanding and reach common grounds on the planned protests.”
The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, said “at about 1320hrs, interacted with the leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Joint Public Negotiation Council (JPNC) in the State to fine-tune ways to ensure peaceful conduct of the protest in the state.
“The meeting which took place at the Command Headquarters along Yandoka Road Bauchi had the representatives of the State NLC chairman, Comrade Shu’aibu Dauda and the state chairman of JPNC, Comrade Ibrahim Maikudi in attendance.
“The meeting was a consequence of the planned protest by the unions scheduled to hold on Wednesday 2nd August 2023 nationwide over a hike in the pump price of petrol.”
CP Auwal Musa emphasised the need for synergy/collaboration with the union leaders in the best interest of the peaceful atmosphere prevalent in the state and the safety of lives and property of citizens, adding that peace should be prioritised by the unions before, during and after the planned protest.
The Commissioner of Police stressed that synergy between the Police Command and the Unions would undoubtedly strengthen the existing relationships between the duo and yield positive results, specifically in the area of information dissemination for the security of the state.
He assured them that the command is fully prepared to deploy all its available resources (human and non-human materials) to antagonize/maintain law and order and to protect the lives and property of citizens/residents of the State.
CP Auwal Musa, therefore, called on all officers of the command to be vigilant, professional and civil but firm in discharging the constitutional mandate.
The Commissioner of Police also reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens throughout the period of the planned protests as all necessary measures to facilitate the peaceful conduct of the demonstrations have been mapped out.
He warned that any attempt by miscreants to exploit the situation for violent purposes such as vandalism, gangsterism, and extortion will be met with a firm, professional and commensurate lawful approach from the police.
“The command will not tolerate any act that would create any inconveniences to the peace and well-being of the State and our dear country,” CP Auwal Musa affirmed.
In their separate remarks, the leadership of the unions assured collaboration with the Bauchi State Police Command in the area of information dissemination to have a peaceful protest by taking appropriate measures.
It includes identifying all their members that would partake in the procession and other internal check measures that would enable them to carry out a hitch-free and successful protest as contained in a statement by SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, PPRO Bauchi State Command.
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