By Aishat Adejo
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has held a critical meeting with stakeholders in the state on the planned national protest with a charge to the organisers to eschew violence and breach of public peace.
He made the call at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja during a meeting convened to address concerns about the proposed protest.
The meeting was attended by Leadership of the state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress,(NLC), Nigeria Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, (NARTO) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
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Others include traditional and religious leaders, youth leaders, Motorcycle/Tricycle Unions, Police Community Relations Committee,(PCRC), Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria,(MACBAN), Market Women Association, National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Students Union Leaders, and other critical Stakeholders.
The CP cautioned any group planning to disrupt the existing peace in the state to desist from such plans as the police will not tolerate any attempt to cause destruction and looting of public or private facilities and businesses under the guise of protesting.
He also warned that any protester found violating the rights of other Nigerians will be sanctioned according to the law.
The police boss urged the organizers of the protest to provide the command with the details on the proposed routes and assembly points earmarked for the protest and assurances that they would carry out a non-violent protest.
According to him, such steps were necessary to enable the command put in place measures to provide security during and after the protest and also to design methods to deter would-be trouble-makers who may want to hijack the process and cause destruction of lives and property in the State.
The CP then used the forum to advise the organizers of the planned protest to cooperate with the police and other security agencies by adhering strictly to international standard best procedures and practices for a peaceful assembly.
