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The Nasarawa State Police Command has advised organisers and participants of a planned protest in Lafia to shelve the demonstration and instead pursue lawful channels to address their grievances.
The warning was contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, who said the planned protest was being organised by a group known as Concerned Women in Politics, Lafia Local Government Area.
According to the command, the group had mobilised about 10,000 women for a protest scheduled for August 17 over the alleged arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention of suspected supporters of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, acknowledged the constitutional right of citizens to express their concerns but cautioned that the prevailing security situation in Lafia made such a mass street protest inadvisable.
He urged the organisers to engage relevant government authorities through dialogue and other legitimate means rather than staging a public demonstration.
Mohammed warned that large gatherings could be infiltrated by hoodlums, disrupt business and social activities, infringe on the rights of other residents and pose a threat to public safety.
He assured residents that the police remained committed to protecting citizens' fundamental rights while maintaining law and order across the state.
The commissioner stressed that security agencies would not allow any individual or group to jeopardise the peace and stability of Nasarawa State.
He further warned that anyone involved in acts capable of breaching public peace, damaging property, attacking persons or obstructing lawful activities would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The police boss also appealed to residents of Lafia and other parts of the state to remain peaceful, law-abiding and resist any attempt to use the planned protest as a platform to create unrest.
