Maureen Okpe
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT Council, to reschedule its planned protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The appeal was made in the interest of public safety following what the Police described as credible security threats linked to the planned demonstration.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, said the Command was aware of the planned peaceful protest by organised labour.
She reaffirmed the Police’s respect for the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.
However, Adeh disclosed that intelligence reports available to the Command indicated plans by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and other non-state actors to infiltrate and hijack the protest.
According to her, such infiltration could undermine public peace and pose serious risks to lives and property within the nation’s capital.
The Police explained that the request for a reschedule was aimed at preventing a possible breakdown of law and order in Abuja.
The Command also warned that the protest, if compromised, could disrupt residents’ freedom of movement and interfere with lawful daily activities.
The NLC had earlier directed all union bodies to join the protest in solidarity with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over demands directed at the FCT Minister.
The Police assured residents of their commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that the appeal was not intended to suppress lawful protest.
The Command urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies to maintain peace and security across the Federal Capital Territory.