By Shakirudeen Bankole
The smooth progression of protesters marching towards the Lagos State Assembly Complex on Monday morning was abruptly halted by a team of fully armed and stern-looking police men who formed barricades against the procession.
The protesters were prevented from entering the Assembly Complex on the account of their possible disruption of legislative proceedings
Deputy Police Commissioner for Lagos State,, DCP Tijani Fatai, who led the team of armed personnel, said “it was the duty of the police to protect the protesters and as well as the lawmakers.”
As at 11:05am in the morning, the officers, armed to the teeth with Tear Gas, arms and ammunition, locked themselves on a Frontline Barricade, preventing the oncoming protesters from entry.
As the crowd clashed with the waiting officers, DCP Tijani emerged from the behind to address the protesters.
After a protracted argument, which referenced the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Police Service Act 2020, and the relevant instruments on Democratic conducts during civil rule, the two parties could not reach a truce.
While speaking with our Correspondent on the protest ground, protesters resisted the claim by the police chief, saying it is against the constitution to stop protest.
“It is crystal clear that the Nigerian Police officers are not familiar with either the constitution of the country or their own Police Service Act. Otherwise, how should one explain their insistence on stopping us (protesters) from reaching the Assembly Members and deliver our message to them.
“The Assembly Members are elected officials. And they are representing us in government. Out coming here is simply to deliver our message to them for onward dissemination to the National Assembly and the Mr President,” Comrade Abas, explained.
Also speaking with Kiin Media, Comrade Folayemi, a member of the Enough Is Enough Coalition, said the protesters were prepared to give it whatever it would take.
“We are not afraid anymore. See the sea of armed police officers and other law enforcement agents deployed to this place? When we are not at the war front. If the government can dissipate similar energy to combat crime, the challenge of kidnapping for ransom and banditry would have become a thing of the past.
” But they would not. It is in their DNA to intimidate and oppress protesters. But we are not afraid anymore. We are ready for them this time around,” she added.
Mrs. Mariam Jimoh, and
Habibati Azeez, two elderly widows were also on the protest ground to seek financial support over their economic hardship, according to them.
While Mrs. Jimoh appeared to be over 75years old, Mrs Azeez, looks 15 years younger than her.
Both of them said they are currently homeless because they could not afford house rents and feeding of their families since the death of their husbands.
“My shop was burned down alongside good filled to the roof. That was in Boundary, Ajegunle around seven years ago. Since then, I have not recovered. My husband also passed away eight years earlier. This made it difficult got me,” she added
The duos of Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon and Omoyele Sowore, the coordinators of the Take It Back Movement, the protest is premised on the Cybercrime Act 2024 and the recent declaration of State of Emergency Rule in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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