The Department of State Services, Nigerian Police Force, and the army have dispersed and arrested some #RevolutionNow protesters in some of the 36 sta
The Department of State Services, Nigerian Police Force, and the army have dispersed and arrested some #RevolutionNow protesters in some of the 36 states where the protests are taking place today. The security officials pursed both protesters and journalists from the scenes of the protests.
Although the leader of the movement, Omoyele Sowore is not among the demonstrators but the leader of today’s protest in Abuja, Pelumi Olajegbensi, has called for a change in government, insisting there is need for political revolution.
He accused the Federal Government of failing to protect Nigerians, citing insecurity, growing unemployment amongst other issues.
“There is a need for us as young people who are interested in the future of this country to raise our voices so we can be heard. Nigeria is currently in a state of emergency, our country has been reduced to a state of surrender; we cannot continue like this.
“Today, we are concerned as young people that a lot of our youths graduate from tertiary institutions and are unemployed because there is no job for them, this has increased the rate of crime in the country. Our demand today is for a conscious political revolution, a need for change in leadership”, he stressed. Olajegbensi also called for a revamp in various sectors of the economy.
Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, alleged 62 protesters were arrested, saying the country had been cast back to the dark days of late despot, Sani Abacha.
“We are back to the Abacha days and this is most unfortunate. We are back to a time again in our national life when the government of the day has criminalized peaceful protests.
“Today we witnessed flogging, beating, harassing and arresting of peaceful protesters in the nation’s capital by a joint task force of security agencies. Many of us begin to wonder if this is what our democracy has come to be. It is most regrettable and unfortunate. But this is the sad and painful reality that we have found ourselves today. Alas this is where we are as a nation,” Adeyanju said.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services, arrested Olawale Bakare and six other #RevolutionNow protesters wearing orange-coloured caps around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Osun State capital.
The protesters led by Bakare, more popularly known as Mandate armed with placards had converged on Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists located in the area and informed newsmen that they wanted to address them. Bakare was detained unjustly for several months last year for leading a similar protest.
While waiting outside for the leadership of the chapel to invite them in, some policemen had approached them and were discussing with the protesters. While that was on, armed men of Department of State Services swooped on the protesters and arrested seven of them.
In Lagos State, the state Police Command clamped down on residents who joined the #RevolutionNow protest in the state. No fewer than 20 of the protesters, including Nigerian journalist, Agba Jalingo, were arrested.
One of the protesters, Jamiu Towolawi, said the police also attacked members of the group around the Ikeja area, adding that 15 people are missing. He said, “As at the last count, we have confirmed the arrest of 20 people and 15 are still missing. They shot tear gas at us at Ikeja Underbridge and brutalised our people. Agba Jalingo is among those arrested.”
Towolawi said more than 100 of the protesters had converged on the Ikeja office of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights for a press briefing.
