Police Arrests Rioters, Not Protesters, During Nationwide Demonstrations, Says Force Spokesperson

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated on Monday that police operatives across the country have only arrested individuals engaged in criminal activities during the ongoing nationwide protests.

During a monthly news conference organized by The Strategic Communication Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) hosted by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, Adejobi emphasized the distinction between protests and riots.

He noted that while some states experienced peaceful protests, others saw riots and criminal acts on the first day of demonstrations.

He further clarified, “Arrests of certain individuals who have been riotous should not be seen as the arrest of protesters. Some states in Nigeria have been having peaceful protests, and security agencies have been engaging them.”

Adejobi mentioned that police, military, and other security agencies have engaged protesters professionally across the country. He highlighted that protesters in Abuja violated a court ruling restricting them to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

According to Adejobi, police presence is not meant to harass or intimidate but to protect national assets. The barricade at Eagle Square is to safeguard the Three Arms Zone.

He added, “In some areas in Abuja, we recorded riots, and this protest was violent. Anywhere we have these engagements, I don’t think we should refer to such an assembly or a gathering or a procession as peaceful anymore.”

Adejobi confirmed that those arrested so far are involved in criminal activities such as armed robbery, homicide, and malicious damage. “We have arrested 873 suspects so far, and these suspects are those who are directly connected to one criminal offence or the other.”

Adejobi denied allegations that the police and other security agencies attacked journalists covering the protests. He also mentioned the arrest of individuals for treasonable felony for carrying foreign flags on Nigerian soil.

“Just this morning, we arrested Ahmed Tailor from Kwanahudu, in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, for producing a large quantity of Russian flags given to young Nigerians to fly for reasons known to him. We are profiling him and seeking other sponsors like him. In Kaduna, we arrested 30 individuals with the same Russian flags.”

Adejobi concluded that the underlying motives of the protests, based on intelligence before their commencement on August 1, are beginning to manifest.