October 1 Protest Set for Eagle Square, Organizers Confirm to Police
Organizers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest are resolute in their plans to demonstrate on Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, despite warnings from police and security agencies. They assert that their right to protest is fundamental and cannot be suppressed.
In a statement issued ahead of the planned demonstrations on October 1, the group has formally notified Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting security to protect protesters during the event. National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, emphasized,
“Protest is a constitutional right, and we refuse to bow to intimidation from any state agent.”
The protests, organized in response to rising hardships stemming from the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, will take place in various locations across the country. Key gatherings are set for Eagle Square in Abuja, coinciding with the Independence Day parade, and at the Ikeja Under Bridge in Lagos. Mobilization efforts are already underway, with participants coming from different regions.
Sanyaolu reiterated the organizers’ commitment to peaceful protest, stating, “We’ve informed the IG about our locations and reminded him of the police’s duty to protect us, rather than repress us as in the past.” The group insists that only an immediate reversal of the subsidy removal would dissuade them from demonstrating.
In response to the planned protests, IG Egbetokun has instructed police forces to deploy personnel to strategic areas, equipped with camouflage uniforms, to discourage participation in the demonstrations. However, leaders of the protest, including Omoyele Sowore and Damilare Adenola, are undeterred. Sowore expressed confidence that the youth would not back down, dismissing fears of violence as unfounded. “We are not violent protesters, and we will march as planned,” he stated.
Legal advisor Deji Adeyanju criticized police attempts to summon protesters, asserting that it is their duty to ensure safety, not intimidation. He argued that past crackdowns on protesters, such as those during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, aimed to instill fear but would not succeed in deterring participation this time.
Adenola, highlighting ongoing grievances, listed demands including the reversal of the subsidy removal, constitutional amendments, and the release of detained protesters. “We will not be intimidated by threats,” he declared. “It’s essential for Nigerians to express their grievances, especially in light of the hardship they face under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
In Lagos, about eight civil society groups are expected to join the protests, with leaders warning the government against any attempts to incite violence or discredit the movement. They assert that the protests will remain peaceful, emphasizing their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
Meanwhile, in Katsina State, police have reassured the public that measures are in place to maintain order during the protests, promising to mobilize resources to ensure safety.
