Scanty Crowd as Omoyele Sowore Leads Protest in Abuja
Despite warnings from the police, protesters in Nigeria have taken to the streets in several cities, including Abuja and Lagos, to express their grievances and demand better living conditions.
The demonstrations, organized by the Take It Back Movement, are seen as a challenge to the government’s authority and a test of the country’s democratic credentials.
The protesters, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, are demanding improved living conditions, better governance, and an end to corruption. They are also calling for the protection of fundamental human rights, which they claim are being eroded by the government.
Sowore, in a statement, said that the protesters will not be intimidated by the police and will continue to demand their rights.
“We are here today because we were told in the Tinubu regime that we will not accept the clause that portrays our fundamental human rights,” Sowore said. “The police are aware that we have a match today, and we have told them that we are going to the National Assembly. It is time for the police and the people to work together so that they can improve their own life position and their working positions as well.”
The Nigeria Police Force had earlier condemned the protest, describing it as a “deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police and, by extension, the nation.” The police spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the protest coincided with National Police Day, a day designated by the federal government to honor officers of the Force.
“While not against the exercise of citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and association in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned about the motive behind such protest scheduled on the same day the contributions of the Nigeria Police Force to national security is to be celebrated,” Adejobi said.
Despite the police warnings, the protesters have vowed to continue their demonstrations. In Abuja, the protesters were met with a heavy police presence, but they were able to defy the police and continue their march.
In Lagos, a group of protesters were seen with placards in Ikeja, the state capital, continuing their march.
However, in Rivers State, the protest was short-lived. Organizers who had gathered at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt were met with teargas from security operatives before the protest could gain momentum.
The protest has also attracted international attention, with many calling on the Nigerian government to respect the rights of its citizens to peaceful assembly and association.
The protest comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to improve its international image and attract foreign investment.
The Nigerian government has been criticized in the past for its handling of protests, with many accusing the police of using excessive force to disperse demonstrators.
The government has promised to respect the rights of its citizens, but the actions of the police have raised concerns about the country’s commitment to democracy and human rights.
