Eagle Square Set For October 1 Protest, Say Organizers In Notification To Police

Eagle Square Set For October 1 Protest, Say Organizers In Notification To Police....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Organizers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest have stated that they will not be deterred by the police, Department of State Services, or military forces as they prepare to move forward with their planned demonstration. They have formally reached out to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting security for the protest, emphasizing that their right to protest is fundamental and should not be suppressed by any state authority…….CONTINUE READING

Nigeria will mark its 64th Independence Anniversary on October 1, coinciding with the protests organized by youth groups to address the hardships resulting from the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira. Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, and Damilare Adenola, the group’s Director of Mobilization, reported that mobilization efforts are already underway, with participants coming from various parts of the country.

Sanyaolu stated, “We have informed the Inspector General of Police about our protest locations, reminding him of the police’s constitutional duty to protect protesters instead of repressing them, as has happened in the past.” The protest in Abuja will take place at Eagle Square, coinciding with the Independence Day parade, while the Lagos demonstration is set for the Ikeja Under Bridge.

The organizers stressed that the protest will span the country, and the only condition that would lead them to reconsider is an immediate reversal of the fuel subsidy removal. In response to security preparations, Egbetokun has ordered the deployment of police forces to strategic locations starting Monday and instructed officers to wear camouflage uniforms.

Protest leader Omoyele Sowore asserted that the youth are unafraid of potential police action, insisting that the demonstration will proceed as planned. He dismissed concerns regarding possible violence, stating, “Nobody has expressed fear to us because they know we are not violent protesters; perhaps the government should be the one expressing concern.”

Lawyer Deji Adeyanju criticized the police for summoning protesters exercising their rights, arguing that the police should protect rather than intimidate demonstrators. He noted that the crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters in August aimed to discourage further demonstrations, but affirmed that such actions would not dissuade participants from the upcoming protest.

Adenola stated that the #FearlessOctober1 demonstration is a continuation of the August protest and arises from the federal government’s failure to address their demands, which include reversing the subsidy removal, amending the constitution, and ensuring the release of detained protesters. He called on Nigerians to join the protest and expressed confidence that a significant turnout would prevent harassment by security agencies.

The Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement, Peluola Adewale, echoed these sentiments, asserting that no intimidation will stop the protest and announcing the participation of eight civil society groups in Lagos. He cautioned the government against infiltrating the protests with hoodlums to incite violence, stressing the importance of peaceful demonstration.

Taiwo Hassan, another protest leader, reinforced the necessity of exercising freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, acknowledging the fears surrounding potential violence but highlighting that many citizens recognize the dire situation they face, regardless of whether they protest or not.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Command has announced measures to ensure that the nationwide protest remains peaceful. ASP Abubakar Sadiq, the command’s Public Relations Officer, stated that sufficient personnel and intelligence resources have been mobilized to maintain order, urging protesters to act responsibly within the legal framework.

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