The RevolutionNow protesters were on Monday dispersed in Lagos by the police because
they did not obtain protest permit.
The Nigerian Police Force said that the protesters were expected to obtain permission
from the police for the protest.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in Area C Command, Mr. Tijani Fatai, said:
“Their gathering is unlawful, an unlawful gathering is meant to be dispersed.”
“There is not going to be any protest, nobody contacted the police whether peaceful or not
they were not permitted to protest.”
Some protesters converged at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos to demand the
release of the publisher of SaharaReporter, Omoyele Sowore.
The protesters were forcefully dispersed by soldiers and policemen.
The heavily armed security operatives from the Police Command in Lagos, the Army and
NSCDC have barricaded the entrance to the National Stadium, Surulere.
The police patrol vehicles, including that of the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS), numbering more
than 20, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), anti-riot operatives, Civil defence men and
military joint taskforce operatives OP MESSA, were stationed at the two main entrances to
the stadium.
At about 8.40 a.m a few protesters, wearing orange caps, have started to converge under
the stadium bridge, displaying neither banner nor placards,
The security operatives prevented employees of the National Stadium, Students of National
Institute for Sports (NIS) and members of the public, who had come to train, from gaining access into the stadium.
The Area Commander, Area C, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tijani Fatai, said the
operatives were on ground to stop any form of protests at the stadium.
Fatai explained that they were not there to give security cover to protesters and advised the
crowd already gathering in front of the National Stadium gate to stay away.
The DCP, Operations in Lagos State command, Mr. Mohammed Ali, also said that the
protesters failed to obtain the necessary permit to carry out the planned protest.
“Their planned protest is unlawful. They did not obtain permission for the protest.
If they say they have the permission, let them show it.
“Any one that foments trouble will be dealt with according to the law,“ Ali said.
Also sporting activities at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin in the early hours of Monday
was put to a halt with the presence of heavily armed men of the Nigeria Police.
The athletes, who had arrived at the stadium for training were turned back by the Police.
Many of the athletes were stranded in and around the stadium gate at the popular Taiwo
Ibrahim road in Ilorin.
Sowore, a journalist and opposition politician, was arrested on Saturday by the
Department of State Service (SSS) for calling for a revolution to oust President
Muhammadu Buhari from power.
At a press briefing, Sowore warned that the SSS would be subsumed in the protest.
The Department of State Security Service (DSS) had on Sunday confirmed the arrest of Sowore,
who was the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC).
The spokesman of the commission, Peter Afunaya, told journalists on Sunday in Abuja that
the DSS was acting within its constitutional powers to arrest and detain anybody or group
who threatens the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.
In Port Harcourt, Security operatives cordoned off strategic places, including popular roads
and Isaac Boro Park to prevent such protests.
Governor Nysom Wike of Rivers state had warned that such a protest would not be allowed
in the state.
In Abuja, armed security operatives were deployed at strategic spots, including the Unity
Fountain to stop any protests.
MM/GIK/APA