Police ban rallies, unlawful protests or gatherings in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has banned rallies, unlawful protests or gathering to guide against hijack of such demonstrations by hoodlums in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Spokesperson for the Command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in Ilorin on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the command wishes to inform the public of the ban on any form of unlawful protest, rally or gathering in Kwara State.

The statement read, “This order becomes inevitable owing to an intelligence report indicating that hoodlums have perfected plans to hijack any rally or procession and use the process to cause chaos and jeopardise the current fragile peace in the country and by extension, Kwara state.

“The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Paul Odama, understands that it is constitutional for the citizens to protest peacefully.”

The CP said the situation where such a protest or rally could be hijacked putting the lives and property of the people and government at risk would not be acceptable.

“This is a temporary ban to evaluate and access the security situation in the state.

“It is pertinent to also advise political party leaders to warn their supporters to desist from inciting and unguided statements on social, print and electronic media capable of inflaming crisis and heating of the polity.

“Consequently, aggressive patrols of the state and raids on criminal hideouts would continue as the command would do everything legally possible to ensure the safety and security of the good people of Kwara,’’ the statement added.