The Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has warned that protesters in the state caught with weapons during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, will be treated as criminals.

The NSCDC state commandant, Alexander Barunde, disclosed this in Jos, on Wednesday, in an address to officers of the command, ahead of the protest starting on Thursday.

Mr Barunde warned organisers of the protest in the state against allowing mischief-makers to infiltrate them and use them as cover to cause anarchy in the state.

Acknowledging the constitutional rights of Nigerians to protest, Mr Barunde, urged the protesters to consider dialogue as a means to address their grievances.

He said, “I call on the organisers of the planned protest not to create a restive situation or give room for mischief-makers to unleash anarchy on society. It must be violence-free and the protesters must eschew every negative tendency to create anarchy; there is room for dialogue with the government over every concern. Any protester wielding weapon of any kind will be treated as a criminal element with different motive; such a person will be arrested and decisively dealt with in accordance with the law.’’

He urged law-abiding and patriotic citizens of the state to “have the interest of the state in dealing with the protest and the uncertainties associated with it.”

The NSCDC commandant also advised officers on the need to respect the rule of law, abiding by ethical standards and observing human dignity while discharging their duties during the protest.