Police in Lagos have Lagos protest blocked, preventing demonstrators from the Take-It-Back Movement reaching the State Assembly to deliver demands
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]peratives of the Lagos State Police Command on Monday prevented a group of protesters from reaching the Lagos State Assembly complex in Ikeja.
Also read: Lagos Police tighten security ahead of April 7 protest
The demonstrators, led by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations, intended to submit a letter outlining their demands concerning pressing national issues.
The ongoing protest aims to highlight concerns including the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act and what the organisers have described as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.
The protesters initially gathered at the Ikeja Under Bridge, where they displayed placards bearing various inscriptions to articulate their grievances.
Subsequently, they began a procession towards the state assembly complex. However, their progress was halted by a contingent of armed policemen who had established a roadblock several metres away from the assembly entrance.
Despite the police presence, the protesters insisted on proceeding to present their letter. This standoff persisted for approximately two hours, during which no official emerged to address the demonstrators.
Juwon Sanyaolu, the national coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, addressed news reporters at the scene, accusing the security operatives of infringing upon their fundamental right to protest.
“The policemen are preventing us from accessing the house of assembly. It is the people’s assembly, so why are they blocking it? They are impeding our constitutional rights to movement, peaceful assembly, and protest,” Mr. Sanyaolu asserted.
Mr. Sanyaolu also demanded the immediate release of protesters who were reportedly arrested in other parts of Nigeria where similar demonstrations were taking place.
Describing the demonstration as a warning action, Mr. Sanyaolu declared that another, larger protest would be organised in August if the government fails to address their demands.
“Currently, protesters have been arrested in Abuja after they were violently dispersed. We are calling for the immediate release of the protesters arrested in Abuja, Yobe,Gombe and Rivers States.
This is a warning action and we going back to remobilise by the time we get back in August, we will shake the entire country and the entire world,” he stated.
Also read: Lagos Police tighten security ahead of April 7 protest
Mr. Sanyaolu outlined their key demands, stating, “We want the federal government to stop the Cyber Crime Act, the emergency rule in Rivers State, the demolition of houses in Oworonshoki and other parts of Lagos State and stop the trial of those who are being charged for treason after the #Endbadgovernance protest.”
