The Ondo state Police command Sunday stated that the arrest of protesters in Akure, the state capital weekend, was to prevent the breakdown of law and order by suspected hooligans and cultists who infiltrated genuine protesters.
The police said some protesters were arrested by the police command on Saturday during the last day of the #EndBadGovernance protest.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, stated that those arrested were wearing the insignia of Aye confraternity which may attract conflict with rival cult groups.
Odunlami-Omisanya said the Police command had initially granted permission for the protest to be held at a designated center, but the protesters violated the permit and staged a protest along the major road, which disrupted the social and commercial activities of the people in the area.
The statement by police said: “On August 9, 2024, at about 1730hrs, a letter of request was received by the office of the Commissioner of Police from a group codenamed.”Take it back” of its intention to stage a peaceful protest on August 10, 2024. The letter sought, among others, for Police presence and the approval of a location suitable for the gathering.
“The Commissioner of Police promptly approved Arcade Arena for the gathering and equally directed that the approval information should be communicated to the applicant through a designated phone number on the letter.
“In a demonstration of good faith and the command’s belief in the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful protest and assembly, the CP directed the deployment of Police presence in the Arcade Arena, securing the arena as early as 0600HRS of 10/08/2024, awaiting the arrival of the group.
“Surprisingly, at about 0900hrs of 10th August 2024, information was received of the presence of some placard-carrying individuals numbering about 10persons at the NEPA Roundabout.
“The police detachment, with other security agencies deployed to the NEPA Roundabout because of the commercial activities of the area, approached the group and informed them to proceed to Arcade Arena approved for them.
“It is worthy to mention that the group of 10 grudgingly accepted to go; however, between the NEPA Roundabout and Officers Mess road in Akure, the number swelled to about 50 persons.
Odunlami-Omisanya said the command acted without the prompting of any politician or political class.
