Anambra: Police Urge Residents To Disregard Protest Calls Against NAFDAC

Police in Anambra State have urged residents to ignore calls for protests against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

This is amid the recent closure of the Head Bridge drug market in Onitsha.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Anambra State Command in a statement, warned that certain individuals, masquerading as human rights activists, were using social media to incite the public against government institutions, including NAFDAC, the Police, and other security agencies.

According to Ikenga, the action of NAFDAC was in line with the Federal Government’s directives to rid the country’s open drug markets of unregistered, expired, banned, substandard, falsified, and illicit drugs, including diverted donated drugs and controlled substances.

SP Ikenga further noted that while the police acknowledged the concerns of affected traders and have forwarded their complaints to the appropriate authorities, intelligence reports indicate that the planned protests could be hijacked by criminal elements to destabilise public peace.

“The state Police Command, after a critical threat analysis based on intelligence reports, warns that the intended protest could escalate and be used by criminals to wreak havoc,” Ikenga stated.

The police command reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of all residents but emphasised that no individual or group would be allowed to violate the rights of others or disturb public order.

Further discussions between the police and market leaders revealed that the protest was being fueled by certain individuals within the market, with the leadership distancing itself from the plans.

The market leaders have pledged to cooperate with relevant agencies to identify and sanction any defaulters.

The police urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding and to avoid any actions that may disrupt peace and security in the state.

Daily