They made the call during a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, warning the protesters not to use their protest to cause violence, public disturbance and infringe on others’ rights.
Stakeholders in the meeting included market men and women, security chiefs, local government chairmen, members of the Bankers’ Committee, the Executive Assistant to the Oyo State Governor of Security Matters, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), the Commandant, Western Nigerian Security Network, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), and the Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaji Yekeen Abass and others.
Addressing the gathering, the Special Adviser on Security to the Oyo State Governor, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd), said the purpose of the meeting was to prepare for the planned protest and also engage different interest groups.
Owoseni emphasised that the Oyo State Government would not prevent anybody from a lawful assemblage as enshrined in the law. The former CP, however, stated that what happened during the #End SARS protest must not repeat itself, warning against violence, mayhem, destruction of public properties and looting.
He added that the government had equipped all the security agents with necessary gadgets needed to make the state free of violence during the protest.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Sikiru Sanda, charged various security stakeholders in the state to cooperate with the government in preventing breakdown of law and order.
Sanda tasked all the local government chairmen to intensify their efforts to ensure maintenance of peaceful coexistence within their areas.
In his remarks, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Sonubi Ayodele, who was represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Akinade Adejobi, called for a peaceful protest.
He called on various groups to be mindful of hoodlums that may want to hijack the protest. The CP assured the likely protesters of maximum security.
In his contribution, the Oyo State Director of the Department of State Service [DSS], Mr Tajudeen Adeogun, urged the youths , and students not to allow anyone to use them for unlawful protests.
END