Let Them Protest: Why Security Agencies Must Ensure Peaceful Demonstrations

Oru Leonard 

These are not good times for young Nigerians. Indeed, these are not the best times for many Nigerians. Millions of them are unemployed or at best underemployed. Their country, Nigeria, is undergoing its worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with food prices skyrocketing and basic necessities becoming increasingly unaffordable. They feel their passionate appeals for change have gone unheeded. Now, they want to take to the streets to be seen and heard.

Their government has gone into panic mode, calling on them not to protest but to come for dialogue instead. The youth are having none of that. They will go ahead, they said. In fact, on Monday, we got a dress rehearsal of what is to come on August 1st in the form of an “early bird” protest in Niger state. We are already seeing checkpoints in parts of Abuja, and the police and military are displaying a show of force in places like Kano.

I strongly believe it is essential to safeguard people’s lives and property as others hold their protests. I also strongly believe the government and security agencies, led by the police, should provide security cover for the protesters. It is counterintuitive for government agents to claim that hoodlums will hijack the process. If the protests in support of the government across the country on Sunday were not hijacked by anyone, I believe security agents must ensure that not one canister of tear gas is fired in anger across the country where protests are otherwise peaceful.

The Inspector General of Police made a statement that I find ludicrous, asking for the addresses of protesters. That is not where his attention should be. He should instead focus on briefing his officers on the ground to ensure they provide a secure cover for protesters so that no one breaks their ranks to cause commotion or chaos. This should be their marching orders.

Let me quote a French phrase for emphasis: “On résiste à l’invasion des armées; on ne résiste pas à l’invasion des idées.” In English, this means: “One can resist the invasion of armies; one cannot resist the invasion of ideas.” As the saying goes, “No one can resist an idea whose time has come.”

If I were to make the call, I would say, let them protest. But, Mr. IGP, you must ensure no one gets hurt. I am not an expert in these matters, but I have some common sense, and I believe the police can earn respect if they ensure my last point is enforced.

So, how can they get this right?

1. Dialogue and communication: This is what I would have expected them to have done from the start. But I have seen that there is no coordination in various segments of government. While some say the protest leaders are known, others say otherwise. So, the Police need to establish open communication with protest organizers and leaders to understand their concerns and plans if they have not done so already.

2. Intelligence gathering: It is good that work is already underway in this regard. I am confident we have a Police Force that is well-adept in gathering information about potential flashpoints, extremist groups, and possible provocateurs. This is crucial for us all.

3. Protest route planning: Instead of rhetoric that gets us nowhere, why don’t security agencies collaborate with organizers to plan a safe and accessible route? This will minimize disruption to the community.

4. Adequate training: I want to believe we have officers trained in crowd management, de-escalation techniques, and human rights. Well, this is the time for them to show their mettle.

5. Visible policing: If there was ever a time for the police to make Nigerians feel they are truly their friends, then this may well be the best shot they will ever get. They must maintain a visible presence to deter potential troublemakers and provide reassurance to peaceful protesters.

6. Crowd monitoring: The current IGP has demonstrated superb judgment and realizes that modern crime fighting and prevention must be driven by technology. This is where all the massive investments in CCTV, drones, or other technologies to monitor the crowd and quickly respond to emerging issues must come in.

7. Peaceful protest facilitation: Designate areas for peaceful protest, providing necessary facilities and support.

8. Contingency planning: One cannot dismiss suggestions that some protesters have no intention of being peaceful. This is why security agencies must prepare for potential scenarios, including violence or property damage, with clear protocols for response.

9. Community engagement: Like I said earlier, the events of the next few days provide an opportunity for security agencies to build trust with local communities, protest groups, and stakeholders through outreach and engagement.

10. Proportionate response: This is absolutely important. Every police response must be proportionate to the situation.

11. Arrest and detention guidelines: Several hours before the protests, I would expect the police to have already established clear guidelines for arrests and detentions. This should be given wide publicity on all media and social media platforms. The guidelines must prioritize de-escalation and minimizing harm.

12. Review and evaluation: After it is all over, there must be an inquisition. If any officer does anything unethical or unprofessional, they must be made to face appropriate sanctions. Like I have referenced, this situation must be a nightmare for the IGP and his men because it potentially has all the echoes of the End SARS debacle. But then again, it is an opportunity to show a side of policing we do not see all too often – that we have decent, patriotic, professional, and well-trained officers.

Segun Ojumu is a Journalist, Media Consultant, and Founder of Africa Eye News Ltd.