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Nigeria · West Africa
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A One-Million-Man March In Support Of The National Protest in Nigeria is expected anytime soon as the Police and the country’s security architecture are deployed to major cities nationwide.
A large number of security operatives and policemen have been deployed to major cities nationwide to maintain law and order at protest venues.
A vast number of police officers have been deployed to major cities in the federation against demonstrators protesting rights violations and unlawful detention of various protesters during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest.
In a quest to maintain their course for good governance and respect for human right, the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest mobilised for a one million-man march today.
#EndBadGovernance protest planned to be held for ten days (August 1st to 10th) has taken a twist as the conveners decided to hold a One-million match today to demand the release of their fellow protesters and respect for human rights has been hit with mass killings and attacks on various protesters and journalists.
The key demands of the demonstrators, among others, are the reversal of the fuel subsidy, the implementation of a living wage for the workers, and an end to bad governance.
The ten-day protest has appeared to fizzle out in some states but maintained its cause in others, such as Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Bauchi, and Kaduna. The conveners insisted on shutting down the country today if their demands were unmet.
Various sources disclosed that the protesters were not satisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday live broadcast, which they described as bereft of key points and unpromising.
Six days ago, President Tinubu appeared on national television, imploring the protesters to end the demonstration and demanding their calmness and support in fixing the country’s problems.
However, sources close to the protesters have revealed that the conveners have been mobilising for the one-million-man march witnessed at various centres across the country today, which will mark the grand finale to the planned ten-day rally.
On Friday, Sanyaolu Juwon, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, said in a statement that the August 10 protest would symbolise the most important moment of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
He said, “The Take It Back Movement, along with other organisers and organisations, will lead a one-million-man protest in each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on August 10.
“This event will mark a critical juncture in our nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, which began on August 1, 2024.
“It started as a planned 10-day protest but has evolved into a sustained and widespread movement, drawing participants from every corner of Nigeria and the Diaspora.”
Amidst the statement, Juwon also requested the release of the demonstrators and conveners detained by the security operatives.
He said, “On the troubling matter of unlawful arrests, we unequivocally condemn the detention of Michael Adaramoye (Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo, and others who were arrested on August 5 and previous and subsequent days.
“Their continued imprisonment by the DSS and the police is a gross violation of their rights. We demand their immediate release and call for an end to these unjust detentions.”
One-Million-Man March In Support Of The National Protest
Abuja: Situation Report
Heavy security presences are spotted in various cities in Abuja in a bid to beef up security in the country’s capital.
Roadblocks and checkpoints are installed in and around the cities to thoroughly monitor the movement of each vehicle and pedestrian to avert any unforeseen attacks.
Additionally, Eagles’ Square is not an exemption, as security personnel, in large numbers, are spotted there.
Juwon continued that the deployment of heavy security men would not downturn the protest’s momentum and purpose, noting that intimidation of the protesters would not affect its aim.
He said, “It’s a nationwide one-million-man march in support of the national protest. Aside from the fact that we are not prophets, Nigerians have also shown resilience in the face of violent state repression. So, I’d say, let’s meet at the barricades.”
The situation in Lagos
Lagos has always been a home for protesters. Today, August 10th, is the last day of the protest, and adequate preparation needs to be made to clampdown on unlawful and anti-state behaviour that the protesters might exhibit.
As reports indicated, heavy security presence was spotted around major bus stops and squares in the state, including Ojota, Ketu, Obalende, and Berger, among others, where protests were expected to take place.
Large numbers of police officers, Soldiers, Operation Mesa, Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps Personnel, and other Security Agencies, along with the state commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, were spotted accompanying the protesters in procession by candlelight to mourn fellow protesters who fell during the nationwide rallies.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance called on President Tinubu to compensate the families of those who lost their lives during the demonstration—noting that more than forty people lost their loves during the protest.
The major protest was held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, where three-day mourning was proclaimed for the protesters who lost their lives during the nationwide #EndBadGovernamce protest.
Another group of protesters held a candlelight procession around Adeniyi Jones in Ikeja. They rallied towards the ShopRite area in the midst of heavy security presence.
Consoling the protesters, Mr. Hassan Taiwo, a member of the committee and National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign, urged President Tinubu to compensate the families of the protesters who lost their lives during the nationwide protest and also proposed the immediate dismissal of the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
“We are here in mourning and to honour all the protesters who lost their lives while protesting against the hardship. We blame Tinubu for what has happened and call for the immediate sacking of the Inspector General of Police,” he claimed.
One-Million-Man March In Support Of The National Protest
Kano: Situation Reports
In Kano today, personnel from the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, and NSCDC were seen waiting for the proposed one-million-man march, which is scheduled for Saturday.
While waiting for the protesters out in numbers, the officials were spotted patrolling significant cities and centres where the protests might occur.
Aside from patrolling significant cities and centres, a massive security presence was noticed on various roads, including France Road, around Sabon Gari in the state metropolitan,
#EndBadGovernance, which was planned to be peaceful, took a twist and metamorphosed into violence and looting of shops and stores. To thwart further looting, the traders engaged in some security service to keep their goods and stores out of reach of the hoodlums disguised as protesters.
However, there are reports of heated exchanges between the protesters and the security men. As the protest continued, SP Abdullahi Haruna, the spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, disclosed that he had received various threat letters from the protesters warning him to back off after he dared to arrest over three hundred of them who looted stores and warehouses of National Identity Management Agency.
Rivers: Roads, Parks Taken Over By Security Operatives
In Rivers, the scene is unchanged. A massive presence of security operatives was spotted at the Federal Secretariat and the Pleasure Park along Aba Road in Port Harcourt in wait for the commencement of the planned nationwide one-million-man march.
However, it was gathered that protesters did not converge at two of their main venues but took the fight to the home and residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the immediate past Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, the Government House, and areas like Elelewon and Oyigbo, among others.
Grace Irinje-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed and noted that the deployment of security operatives was ongoing to quell any attempt by hoodlums to hijack the protest by resorting to looting and tempering the peace of the state.
She said, “You know, before this time, we had restricted the protest to Pleasure Park and Isaac Boro Park. But we got credible intelligence that some individuals are planning a one-million-man march tomorrow, and some plan to loot and cause security breaches.
“We are saying all genuine protesters should continue to use the two designated places. We will not allow anyone or group to try to loot, steal, or cause any security breach in the name of protest.”
Also responding is the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, who said the military would take a stand if invited by the police.
He stated, “The military only gets involved at the POLICE’S INVITATION. We will remain on standby until invited by the police.”
Demands For Release Of Detained Protesters:
The organisers of the #EndbadGovernance protest and a coalition of civil society organisations have made a rally call on the president and the security agents to release the in-detention protesters.
While addressing the press on Friday in Abuja, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, who is also the group’s coordinator, Peter Ameh, claimed that operatives of the Nigerian Police force have been secretly arresting conveners and protesters across the country.
He stated that many protesters had been detained by the security operatives, alleging that the present administration has a meritocratic tendency to unlawfully arrest citizens demanding necessities, an end to hunger, a decrease in overbearing government spending, a living wage for the workers, an end to insecurity, and bad governance.
He stated, “The 1999 Constitution, as amended, protects our inalienable rights, including the right to protest. According to the constitution, one should not be held without being charged in court for more than 48 hours. Yet, people like Alhaji Khand Aminu remain in detention without charges, languishing in SSS custody in Kaduna.
“This is unacceptable! Nigeria may be lawless, but our fundamental rights will not be taken away from us. We demand that all those detained in connection to the ongoing protest be released with immediate effect; otherwise, President Tinubu should be ready to arrest all of us.”
Expressing their dissatisfaction at the killings and unlawful arrests of the protesters, opposition parties fume and condemn the use of live ammunition on the protesters.
The notable killing of a sixteen-year-old protester who was identified as Ismail Mohammed in Zaria, Kaduna State, attracted widespread anger and bitterness from the general public.
The incident took place when the operative of the Nigerian Army was called upon to dislodge some hoodlums, burning tires and engaging in a physical battle with the security personnel in Samaru Community.
While getting to the scene, the mob made a move to attack the Army personnel, which prompted them to fire a warning shot to scare them away, but unfortunately, a bullet hit Mohammed, which led to his eventual death.
One-Million-Man March In Support Of The National Protest
However, not less than seventeen people have been reportedly dead in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa during the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
Yunusa Tanko, the chief spokesman of the Labour Party presidential flag bearer Peter Obi, vented his anger over the killing of the Kaduna teenager, noting he knew the boy and the family in Samaru.
“That teenager was shot right here in my area, Samaru community. I was there. It was not as if it happened in my presence, but I was a distance away from the house where it occurred,” Tanko said.
Arms May Be Utilised if lives are threatened – APC
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for peace and an end to the ongoing nationwide protest.
While addressing the press, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, revealed it is unlawful to introduce live ammunition at protest grounds. Still, life-threatening actions might prompt the security operatives to use them at some points.
He said, “That is wrong. In a peaceful demonstration, the use of lethal force is not allowed. However, the word ‘peaceful’ must be respected.
If the protest turns violent and security agents are being attacked, they have a right to protect themselves. The operatives have the right to use reasonable and reciprocal force.
“For instance, if someone attacks you with an AK-47, you can use arms that are equivalent in force to save yourself and others. If the protest is peaceful, lethal weapons have no place. But when they become life-threatening, the narratives will change.”
“Hundreds Of Protesters In Detention,” Says Adeyanju
Meanwhile, Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist, has claimed that hundreds of #EndBadGovernance protesters were reprimanded across the country by the security operatives.
Adeyanju, the legal adviser to the protesters, also noted that some of the protesters have been charged in court by the police, but the legal team has yet to receive the charge sheet.
Assuring the public that efforts are being made to release all detained protesters across the country.
Lagos: Protest Over
Meanwhile, in Lagos, no single demonstration was spotted in what appeared to be a resolution of the situation, and dialogue has also been embraced by the citizens of Lagos State.
On Friday, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, in what he described as “mature Leadership,”
He noted that the visit of the state Governing Council to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday has prevented the state from being consumed by chaos during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
He said, “The protest in Lagos has been peaceful so far, and it is over in Lagos.
Lagosians have embraced peace and dialogue, and the governor has opened engagement channels for protesters to dialogue.
“The state has provided phone numbers through the Ministry of Information, Youth and Social Development, and the Office of Civic Engagement.
We have received calls from citizens, and there has been fruitful dialogue, so there will be no more protests in Lagos.
“Today, the GAC, led by their chairman, Tajudeen Olusi, paid a solidarity visit to Mr. Governor at the State House and commended how our governor handled the recent expression of grievances through the protests. He has demonstrated mature leadership. The good people of the state have chosen peace.”
One-Million-Man March One-Million-Man March
