The Ministry of Environment in Abia State has announced the cancellation of the monthly sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, July 27, 2024.

In a public service announcement, the ministry informed the public that the exercise will not hold as previously planned.

Residents are advised to go about their normal businesses without any restrictions or disruptions.

This cancellation applies to the entire state, and residents are encouraged to continue with their daily activities without any hindrance.

“We have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest,” says Nigeria’s police chief Egbetokun.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday said that credible intelligence at the disposal of the Nigeria Police Force, revealed that foreign mercenaries are deeply involved in the planning of the anticipated August first nationwide protest in the country.

The IGP also issued a stern warning to clandestine groups plotting to destabilize the country and hoodlums seeking to exploit protests for their criminal agendas.

Egbetokun, who made this disclosure while, addressing a press conference at the Force Headquarter in Abuja, also noted that the police will not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, destruction of public infrastructure and private property, or looting of private businesses.

He said: “We note those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical juncture, fearing enemies of our country may be manipulating the process. We confirm their fears are genuine, as we have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest. The Nigerian police urges all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group. While we alert citizens to the sinister motives of certain groups planning to wreak havoc, it has become clear that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed”.

Acknowledging the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protests, Egbetokun noted that in the interest of public safety and order, the police orders all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where protest is intended to take place.

He noted that to facilitate a successful and incident free protest, the protesting groups must provide some requisite information. He itemised these requisite information to include but not limited to proposed protest routes and assembling points

He said that by providing this information, the police will be enabled to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety, and designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.

“Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise, and minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity,” he said.

The police boss encouraged all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights. According to him, we are committed to working with all Nigerians to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order.

Noting that the police intelligence team has been monitoring development surrounding protest threats, Egbetokun said that while some groups call for violent protests, emulating Kenya’s recent events, others advocate for peaceful demonstrations.

“However, some individuals promote peaceful protests with violent undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity.

We have our own history of violent protests in Nigeria, and I don’t believe we have to look to other countries to note the dangers of unchecked demonstrations.

We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence,” he concluded.

Activist lawyer Femi Falana said no threat from the government or any quarters can stop the looming nationwide protests scheduled to begin on August 1.

DAILY POST reports that some organisations and even the presidency had issued statements condemning the planned nationwide protests aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the prevailing hardship in the country.

Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, Falana urged the FG to identify the organisers of the protest and engage them in productive dialogue.

He said: “They have a way of contacting themselves and I think the government can draw some lessons from that 2020 (#EndSars) experience. Identify those who are planning the protest and then engage with them productively.

“Threat will not work. In fact, the action of the government has a way of popularising such protests.

“Nobody listens to such warnings. This time around, the government should identify the leaders of the movement and have some dialogue with them.

There are demands that are being raised, the government should address those demands.”