The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has clarified that the police have only arrested individuals involved in criminal activities during the ongoing nationwide protests, not peaceful protesters.
Adejobi made this statement 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 on Monday.
He emphasized that there is a clear distinction between peaceful protests and violent riots. According to Adejobi, while some states have experienced peaceful demonstrations, others have seen riots and criminal activities from the outset.
“The arrests made should not be interpreted as targeting peaceful protesters,” Adejobi said. “There have been states where protests have been peaceful, and security agencies, including governors and public officials, have engaged with them constructively.”
He added that disturbances involving individuals armed with stones and dangerous weapons are not considered peaceful gatherings. “A reasonable person would avoid such violent assemblies,” Adejobi noted.
The police, military, and other security agencies have been conducting their operations professionally across the country, according to Adejobi. In Abuja, some protesters violated a court ruling that restricted their demonstration to the main bowl of the National Stadium. The police’s presence, Adejobi said, was to protect national assets and prevent disruptions, including the barricades at Eagle Square to safeguard the Three Arms Zone.
“In some areas of Abuja, we did witness violent riots. Such assemblies cannot be classified as peaceful protests,” Adejobi explained. He confirmed that the individuals arrested so far—873 in total—are linked to various criminal activities such as armed robbery, homicide, and vandalism of both private and public properties.
Adejobi also addressed concerns about alleged attacks on journalists, denying any such claims. He clarified that the police’s role was to prevent gatherings in unauthorized areas and maintain public order.
Additionally, Adejobi disclosed that individuals have been arrested for treasonable felonies related to carrying foreign flags. For example, Ahmed Tailor was apprehended in Kano State for producing and distributing Russian flags, which were found in other locations such as Kaduna. “We are profiling these individuals and investigating their connections,” Adejobi said. “The true nature of the protest, as indicated by our intelligence before it began on August 1, is becoming evident.”
