Nigerian police warn of foreign mercenary involvement in upcoming protests

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a warning about the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the scheduled nationwide protests in Nigeria.

Speaking to the press on July 26, Egbetokun emphasized the importance of public caution regarding participation in these protests, citing intelligence reports as the basis for his concerns, Caliber.Az reports per Nigerian media.

"We have been monitoring developments surrounding protest threats. While some groups call for violent protests, emulating Kenya’s recent events, others advocate for peaceful demonstrations," Egbetokun explained. However, he noted that even some of those promoting peaceful protests have done so "with violent undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity."

Egbetokun highlighted Nigeria's history of violent protests and cautioned against the potential dangers of unchecked demonstrations. "We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence," he stated, acknowledging those who have voiced concerns about the motives behind the protests.

The Inspector General confirmed that the Nigerian police have credible intelligence indicating the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the planned protests. "We confirm their fears are genuine, as we have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in this planned protest. The Nigerian police urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group," Egbetokun urged.