The police in Akwa Ibom say preparation has been put in place ahead of the planned October 1 protests in the state.
It also said the command i I’ms battle-ready to contain any form of insurrection from the protest.
The command’s spokesperson, Timfon John stated this in reaction to the planned protest in the state and other parts of Nigeria.
Timfon said the State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, has deployed operatives to strategic locations in the state.
This, she added, is to ensure that the protest does not hold, and if it eventually holds, should not escalate into anarchy.
The police spokesperson urged people of the state to go about their normal duties without any fear of molestation. She added that the command has put adequate security 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,” she said.
The planned protest is tagged #FearlessInOctober1.
It is a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which was held across some states across the country from August 1 to 10.