Members of the #RevolutionNow
movement who converged on the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Monday,
were forcefully dispersed by soldiers and policemen.
The protesters, who arrived at
the stadium around 7am on Monday, for the kick-off of the protest met a
detachment of policemen at the entrance of the stadium.
Some soldiers later joined the
policemen.
Eliaz Ozikpu, one of the
protesters said, that he was discussing the protest plans with others
when security operatives crossed over the road to meet them.
“We were standing here, while
they watched us from the other side. Suddenly, they moved on us and said we
can’t talk to the press. We weren’t even talking to the press yet. We were
addressing ourselves,” he said.
One of Sowore’s supporters being led to a police van |
The protesters, however, started
chanting calling for the release of Omoyele Sowore, convener of the movement
who was arrested Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services
(DSS).
Shortly after, policemen fired
teargas and shot into the air to disperse the protesters. Some members of the
movement were also arrested.
A policeman, who spoke off the
record, revealed that Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police,
ordered that the protesters should be dispersed.
“We have a standing order from
the IGP, not even the CP in Lagos can stop us,” he said.
Peter Afunaya, spokesman of the
DSS, had told reporters in Abuja on Sunday that Sowore was arrested because he
“crossed lines”.
“Sowore has as a matter of fact
threatened the peaceful co-existence and social harmony of Nigeria, there is
apprehension, there is anxiety, citizens and residents are worried as to what
will happen next. We want to use this opportunity to assure law-abiding
Nigerians, friends of Nigeria, and citizens of the world, that come tomorrow
(today) 5th August 2019, there will be absolute peace in Nigeria, nothing will
happen,” he had said.
“There won’t be any revolution,
the government that has been elected democratically will be in place, there
will not be any forceful takeover of government and the DSS will not stand idly
by and watch self serving people take laws into their hands.”
When those who are employed to protect us are our oppressors, I’m not even surprised when th ones we elected turn their backs on us
ReplyDelete