Hardship Protest
Soldier, police in show of force nationwide, court restricts Lagos protest to two venues
On Tuesday, security personnel, including soldiers and police officers, took control of the Eagle Square in Abuja, which is a well-known venue for public gatherings. This action was taken in anticipation of the #EndBadGovernance protest that is scheduled to take place in the Federal Capital Territory and several major cities on Thursday. Observers noted a significant presence of security forces at the square, with over 300 operatives deployed along with 26 military vans, 12 police patrol vehicles, and a Black Maria parked both within and around the area.
The occupation of the square by security forces followed a contentious virtual meeting between the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the organizers of the protest. During this meeting, a fundamental disagreement arose regarding the proposed conduct of the demonstration. The police had recommended that the protests be confined to specific areas, citing public safety concerns as the rationale behind this suggestion. However, the protest organizers firmly rejected this proposal, arguing that it infringed upon their fundamental rights to assemble and express their grievances.
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Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the solicitor representing the protest organizers, voiced strong objections to the police’s suggestion. He emphasized that the right to protest is a fundamental entitlement of Nigerian citizens and that the police should not take any actions that would obstruct or jeopardize this right. Adegboruwa highlighted that the meeting reached a consensus on the importance of police protection for citizens during protests, but the key point of contention remained the issue of confinement to a particular location.
The organizers insisted that they have the right to rally and carry out processions in public spaces, while the police maintained that their limited manpower would make it challenging to monitor protests if they were allowed to take place across various locations. This disagreement underscored the ongoing tension between civil liberties and law enforcement’s responsibilities.
In what appeared to be a significant setback for the protest organizers, the Lagos State High Court subsequently issued restrictions on the planned protests. This legal development added another layer of complexity to the situation, raising concerns among civil society groups and human rights advocates about the implications for free expression and the right to peaceful assembly in Nigeria. The unfolding events at Eagle Square and the broader context of the protests reflect the ongoing struggle for accountability and governance in the country, as citizens seek to voice their demands for change.
