ICYMI: Planned #RevolutionNow protest, a treasonable felony ― IGP

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has warned organisers of ‘#RevolutionNow’ protests in Nigeria to shelve its planned actions as it amounts to a treasonable felony.

While warning Nigerians to steer clear of any activities in the name of #RevoltuionNow, the Police chief also said that the Force will not “stand idly by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the land.”

According to a Police statement posted on its verified Twitter account @Policeng on Saturday, Adamu noted that the planned protest which aims to force “a regime change in the country” is “treasonable felony and acts of terrorism.”

He added that the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above proposed protest.

This development may not be unconnected with the purported arrest of Publisher of online news medium, Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore in the early hours of Saturday.

Recall that Sowore who was the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 Presidential Election had launched a #RevolutionNow campaign on Twitter with series of tweets mobilising Nigerian for a protest march against bad governance in Nigeria, scheduled for August 5, 2019.

But the Police said that rights to lawfully protest should not “translate to a violent and forceful change of government which clearly is the meaning of revolution.”

The statement read: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media by the ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria and others’, inciting Nigerians, home and abroad, to join a planned ‘revolution’ march against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, 5th August, 2019 with the sole aim of forcing a regime change in the country.

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“The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the call amounts to treasonable felony and acts of terrorism and will therefore not stand idly-by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the land.

“While acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government which clearly is the meaning of ‘revolution’.

“Needless to state that Nigeria is a democratic republic and has well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.

“The Force therefore warns the organizers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathisers of the group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’ to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed “revolution”, as the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above planned criminal act.

“Parents and Guardians are therefore enjoined to impress on their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used in whatever form by any person or group of persons to cause breach of law and order in the country.

“The Police will work with other Law Enforcement Agencies and positive minded Nigerians to protect, defend and secure our public peace and space.”