Protest: No Violence Protest would be Allow in Plateau- CP

The Police in Plateau State has vowed to takeover major streets in the State to dislodge mischief makers who may attempt to hijack the planned nation wide peaceful protest in the state.

Plateau State Police Commissioner, CP Emmanuel Adesina announced this during a strategic meeting with critical stakeholders at the Police Officers Mess in Jos, on the need to cooperate with the Police to ensure peace in the state, before, during and after the planned protest, if it holds.

While reiterating the command readiness to deal with criminal elements who wants to disguise in the name of the peaceful protest to cause mayhem in the state, the CP assured that the police personnel will be professional in handling the situation, knowing fully the constitutional right of the citizens for peaceful protest.

“When we look at it, peaceful protest is allow by law. But when some people are saying that their own motive for the protest is to turn things up side down, to create panic, mayhem, destruction and even to kill, we are not going to allow that.” He said.

The Police Boss in Plateau State urged those planning to come out for the protest to be peaceful in their conduct.

He said “as some are still saying that they will still come out, well, if they come out let them be peaceful. If they come out peaceful, there is no problem, but if they are not peaceful then everyone of them would answer his or her father’s name.”

CP Adesina who informed the stakeholders that the command has been engaging different groups for the purpose of ensuring peace in the state, said they would be grateful if the stakeholders and all the citizens cooperate with them in maintaining peace in the state.

His take home message to the stakeholders present at the meeting which comprises Civil Society Organizations CSOs, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Jama’atu Nasril Islam JNI, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Traditional Council, Traders, Plateau Youth Council among others was that let there be no violence protest on the Plateau.

Various stakeholders who spoke at the meeting appreciated the proactive measures taken by the Police to ensure that the planned peaceful protest did not turn violence as perceived by many.

They acknowledged the reasons for the protest which are glaring and appealed to the government to think outside the box and proffer solutions to critical issues that gave birth to the protest idea.