Africa Press-Nigeria:
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 30
protesters barely 12 hours after the state Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, instructed officers and men of the command to disallow any rally or protests on October 1, a move countered by #RevolutionNow protesters as they hit the streets on Thursday.
Odumosu, who gave the charge during a security meeting with the area commanders, divisional police officers and head of units, had also warned parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from holding rallies, protests or allow themselves to be mobilised to wage war against the government.
He further warned that contrary to that, such parents or guardians of any youths arrested for such act will be prosecuted.
Disregarding that warning, the protesters trooped into the streets of Lagos, demanding for a better society and an end to bad governance.
In response, police operatives who were deployed to maintain the peace arrested over 30 protesters, injuring some in the process.
The demonstration, which started at about 9am, saw the protesters converge on Ojota, from where they all marched to Maryland singing solidarity songs.
The protesters, dressed in orange and green colours were seen carrying placards and chanting expletives like Ole (thief) as they stormed Ojota and Maryland axis of the state.
When the protest was about to wrap them, the police swung into action and arrested some of the protesters, although this did not deter the rest from still protesting.
Earlier in a press statement where they called for nationwide protest to register their grouse against bad governance, Coalition for Revolution (CORE), the organisers of the #RevolutionNow protest, demanded the reversal of “anti-people policies implemented by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration”.
Led by former presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore, the group said: “These harsh policies that have bored a burdensome hole into the pockets of the Nigerian people are coming at a time when citizens are recovering from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global health crisis that was also mismanaged by the Buhari’s government further plunging already struggling citizens into deeper financial problems.
“It also comes at a time when there is an unprecedented dictatorial-style crackdown on free speech, dissent, activism, journalism and the right to associate and congregate peacefully and protest.”
Also among the demands it made was for the reversal of the hike in the price of petrol, the sack of service chiefs and an end to “state-supervised and approved impunity under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
Confirming the arrests, the PPRO Lagos Command, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, said those arrested were on the grounds of unlawful assembly and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.
He said: “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 30 protesters at various locations within the state for unlawful assembly, conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and other offences including violation of COVID-19 protocols/laws in Lagos State.
“The arrested individuals, who put on crested vests of #RevolutionNow with placards, will be charged to court on Friday, October 2.”
