The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Six, Jonathan Towuru, has alleged foreign mercenaries’ involvement in the planned public protest scheduled to hold August 1–10, 2024.
The zonal PRO, Nelson Okpabi, disclosed this in a statement he signed on behalf of the AIG on Saturday evening.
The AIG said they have taken cognizance of those who have spoken out against any form of protest and expressed fear that enemies of the country may be manipulating the process.
Towuru said: “It is confirmed that these fears are genuine based on credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in the planned protest.”
He added: “The police commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence.”
Towuru called on all Akwa Ibom and Cross River state residents to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group, stressing that even a peaceful protest at this time is ill-timed.
“The Zone is therefore issuing a stern warning to clandestine groups plotting to destabilise the country and hoodlums seeking to exploit protests for their criminal intentions that the police and other security agencies will not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, destruction of public infrastructure and private property, or looting of private businesses,” he warned.
He advised all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioners of Police in the states where the protest is intended to facilitate a successful and incident-free protest.
He urged them to identify the routes and assembly points where the protest is to hold, the duration, names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers, amongst other necessary information.