The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has revealed that one of the masterminds behind the recent crisis in Sudan was among the organizers of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests that recently swept across Nigeria.
The police chief made this disclosure on Monday during a Youth Summit organized by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, where he also addressed concerns about a recent raid on the Nigeria Labour Congress national headquarters in Abuja.
Despite the Nigeria Police Force’s claims that the NLC building was not the intended target of the operation, the Labour Centre remains unconvinced.
Egbetokun clarified that the police did not target the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in their operation, but rather an office within the building that was being used by the foreigner linked to the Sudanese crisis.
The foreign national, whose identity has not been fully disclosed, was allegedly hiding in one of the offices at the Labour House, which led to the police operation. The Inspector-General stressed that the raid was not aimed at labour leaders but was focused on apprehending the foreign individual suspected of planning to destabilize Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists after the summit, Egbetokun provided further details about the raid, stating that the foreigner was able to escape, but valuable documents related to his activities were recovered.
“Our responsibility is not to protest but to manage protests. The intelligence at the disposal of the police indicated that some agents of destabilisation were prepared to use the hardship protest to destabilize our country,” Egbetokun said.
He added that while some of these individuals have already fled the country, the police are still actively pursuing them. “One of them was traced to the Labour House the other day. We raided only a shop that the individual was using as a front.
“He was very active in the Sudan crisis and was in Nigeria mobilizing people to destabilize our country,” Egbetokun explained.
The police chief’s comments have drawn significant attention, particularly in light of the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, which were held nationwide from August 1 to 10.
The protests, initially sparked by widespread economic hardship, saw Nigerians take to the streets in various cities, voicing their frustrations over rising inflation, unemployment, and the general state of governance in the country.
However, the protests were not without incident. In several parts of the country, particularly in the northern region, the demonstrations turned violent, leading to clashes between protesters and security forces.
Allegations have emerged that security operatives used live ammunition during the protests, further escalating tensions. In one tragic incident on August 6, a soldier reportedly “accidentally” shot and killed a protester in Zaria, Kaduna State, adding to the growing list of casualties from the demonstrations.
Egbetokun drew parallels between the recent #EndBadGovernance protests and the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which also began peacefully before descending into chaos. “I always refer to the #EndSARS protest which turned violent.
“It started initially as peaceful, but any protest that is mobilized on social media has the potential to be violent because when you are mobilizing on social media, you are mobilizing the whole population, including the criminals,” he noted.
He argued that protests organized through social media platforms often attract a wide range of participants, including those with criminal intent, which makes it difficult to control the situation.
“So, the idea of the protest being hijacked, I don’t believe that a protest that is mobilized on social media is hijacked. Hijacked by who? By the same people that were mobilized for the protest,” Egbetokun questioned.
Earlier in the summit, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, who served as the guest lecturer, advised the federal government to engage more proactively with the youth to address the current challenges facing the country. Fagbohun emphasised the importance of government intervention in guiding young people, particularly in these trying times.
Meanwhile, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has announced the cancellation of the 2024 International Youth Day celebrations in honor of the protesters who lost their lives during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The NYCN, in a statement released on Monday by its president, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, cited the ongoing economic hardship and the need to stand in solidarity with the victims of the protest as reasons for the cancellation.
“The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) announces the cancellation of this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) celebrations in solidarity with the #EndBadGovernance protesters who recently lost their lives,” the statement read.
The NYCN expressed deep concern over the severe economic hardship affecting millions of Nigerians and the widespread hunger that has resulted. The council’s decision to cancel the celebrations reflects its belief that addressing these pressing issues should take precedence over holding celebratory events.
“In light of the ongoing economic crisis—marked by rising inflation, high unemployment rates, and growing discontent among the youth—we believe it is necessary to prioritize addressing these pressing issues over celebratory events,” Sukubo stated.
The NYCN also revealed that it has submitted a detailed position paper to key government figures, including the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, and the National Assembly. The document contains recommendations aimed at alleviating the current hardships and strengthening the role of Nigerian youth in national security intelligence.
The council urged President Bola Tinubu to take swift action on several critical issues affecting the youth, including economic relief measures, transparency and accountability, public transportation, agricultural support, healthcare access, education, and skill development.