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IGP Requests Protest Details to Ensure Safety Amid Concerns of Violence
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has called on those organizing the upcoming nationwide protest to submit detailed information to their respective state police commissioners.
This request was made during a press conference held in Abuja on Friday. The protest, scheduled to start on August 1, is driven by youth groups addressing the escalating cost of living in Nigeria.
Egbetokun emphasized that providing specific details would assist the police in deploying the necessary personnel and resources to maintain public safety throughout the protest.
The required information includes the planned route and assembly point for the protest; the expected duration of the event; the names and contact details of the protest leaders and organizers; and strategies to prevent the protest from being disrupted by criminal elements, including measures to identify and isolate potential troublemakers.
The IGP also highlighted the importance of clearly designating protest routes and areas to prevent clashes with other events, establishing effective communication channels with protest leaders to swiftly address any emerging issues, and minimizing the risks of violence, property damage, or other criminal activities.
Egbetokun urged all participants to cooperate with law enforcement, adhere to legal requirements, and follow international best practices for peaceful assembly to ensure a safe and effective demonstration of their rights.
Additionally, Egbetokun mentioned that the police have received credible intelligence suggesting the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the protest. He cautioned that the timing of the protest might be problematic, given the current climate.
The federal and state governments, including President Bola Tinubu, have urged the youth to reconsider the protest.
Religious and traditional leaders have also advocated for the demonstration’s cancellation.
Both the military and the Department of State Services (DSS) have expressed concerns that the protest could be taken over by violent elements.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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