The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benneth Igweh, has urged Abuja residents to refrain from joining the upcoming nationwide protest against economic hardship, News About Nigeria reports.
He expressed concerns about potential damage to new infrastructure recently implemented by the FCT administration and President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Monday as the date for the protest by unnamed groups approaches, Igweh said it is important to protect the city’s infrastructure and maintain peace.
He stated, “Lions do not destroy their den. We have toiled so much to ensure and provide security for the FCT. In the course of this, we have gone to Kaduna, Kogi, and Nasarawa to fish out criminals who came to disturb the peace of Abuja. In this process, we have lost officers. Last week, we lost two officers; the previous week, we lost one officer while ensuring security and safeguarding residents. We don’t want to lose any more people.”
Igweh pleaded with residents not to allow the destruction of the improvements made by the FCT administration and the president.
“We have been in this FCT; we know when there are changes—roads, infrastructure. I am pleading with residents, do not join this protest. We don’t want miscreants to come from outside the FCT and start destroying them. We will go back to square one where we were before. I plead, I beg of you, do not join this protest,” he said.
He further urged residents to act responsibly and appreciate the efforts made to ensure their safety.
“Let us continue collectively to make the FCT safe. Let them go and do what they want to do, but not with us. Act maturely. Act maturely. Act like people who appreciate. Even the loss we have been enduring to ensure your safety. Use it to appreciate us. If you give it to us, we will be very happy. We will continue to provide security for you.”
In addition to addressing the planned protest, Igweh also paraded the mastermind of the armed robbery gang responsible for the killing of retired Brigadier General Uwen Harold Udokwerre in Abuja on June 22, 2024.
