October 1 protest: Akwa Ibom police battle ready, says spokesman

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said it is prepared and battle-ready to contain any insurrection from any quarter in the state in the form of protest.

The command’s spokesperson, Timfon John, who spoke with PUNCH Online in Uyo, the state capital on Sunday while reacting to the planned protest on October 1, said the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, deployed operatives to strategic locations in the state to ensure that the protest does not hold, and if it eventually holds, should not degenerate into anarchy.

She advised residents of the state to go about their normal duties without any fear of molestation as adequate security has been put in place to ensure their safety and protection

“As regards the rumoured protest, the truth is that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, has made the necessary deployments to that effect and the command is making sure that by the grace of God, there is no protest in Akwa Ibom State and if at all there will be, it’s going to be a peaceful one, where the hoodlums will not have the opportunity to hijack and make it violent to disrupt the peace and comfort being enjoyed in the state.

“We are ready, battle ready. We have tight security, and unlike the last protest, people should go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation because we have put in necessary security to ensure that the peace in the state is maintained,” John said.

According to organisers, the Independence Day protest, tagged #FearlessOctober1, is a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which took place from August 1 to 10.

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