A report has indicated that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed all state commands to raid all vulcaniser shops in their jurisdiction and seize all un-used tyres and dispose them.
The police said the action would stop Nigerians planning to partake in the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest from getting tyres to burn on highways or any other place of importance.
According to SaharaReporters, in a leaked police wireless message, the Commissioner of Police for the Ekiti State Police Command addressed the Divisional Police Officers and various unit commands, warning that divisional police officers (DPOs) in whose areas protesters start fires would be sanctioned accordingly.
Although, SaharaReporters could not ascertain the kind of punishment that would be meted out to divisional police officers (DPOs) who failed to carry out the instruction.
The wireless message dated “DTO:240840/07/2024 addressed to DECOMPOL CID/ACPOL SID/ALL ACPOLS/DPOS/RRS/ AKS/SHP EKITI, reads:
“CB:4001/EKS/DOPS/VOL.53/181. Order and directives. Re-nationwide protest against end bad government in Nigeria. In view of Inspector General of Police conference/briefing with Assistant Inspector General of Police zones and Commissioners of Police in all the states on the above subject. Commissioner of Police directs you go out in the midnight, raid vulcanizer shops in and around yours and seize all un-used tyres and dispose them off to prevent protesters from using same to set burn fire on the highway.
“Any DPO in whose Area of Operation burn fire occurs will be sanctioned accordingly. All to ensure strict compliance please.”