The Ekiti State Police Command has been ordered to raid all vulcaniser shops within the state and confiscate all unused tyres.
This directive comes in anticipation of the planned nationwide protests set to begin on August 1, 2024, under the hashtag ‘#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria,’ which has gained significant momentum on social media.
A widely circulated police wireless message, addressed to Divisional Police Officers and various units, warns that any DPO whose area experiences tyre fires during the protests will face sanctions.
The notice, titled ‘Order and directives re: Nationwide protest against end bad government in Nigeria,’ reads:
“In view of the Inspector General of Police Conference/briefing with Assistant Inspector General of Police zones and Commissioners of Police in all the states on the above subject, the Commissioner of Police directs you to go out in the midnight, raid vulcaniser shops in your area of responsibility, and seize all unused tyres to prevent protesters from using them to set fires on the highways.
“Any DPO in whose area of responsibility tyre fires occur will be sanctioned accordingly. All to ensure strict compliance please.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, said that “The directive became necessary due to an intelligence report indicating that some miscreants are planning to disturb the peace and movements of innocent citizens in the coming days using available and unused tyres on the streets.”
He added, “Peaceful protest is a right of all citizens, but protests characterized by threats, bloodshed, and destruction of properties and lives of innocent citizens are unacceptable.”
The Presidency, police, and military have all warned against the protest, citing the need for the nation to heal from the #EndSARS protest.
