Army and police have dispersed and arrested some #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja, Lagos and Osun states on Wednesday, August 5.
The protesters in Abuja carrying placards and banners had set out as early as 8am to demand good governance.
Some of the banners read, ‘Nigerians are sick and tired of poverty, corruption, injustice and untimely death’; ‘Say no to injustice’, ‘Yes to living wage for unemployed youths’.
The protesters, many of whom wore orange berets, converged on the Unity Fountain, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, and were about to begin their procession when policemen stormed the venue and dispersed them.
Soldiers and other security operatives also cordoned off adjoining streets including Aguiyi Ironsi Street to prevent the protesters from marching.
According to Punch, Human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, stated that he witnessed security agents beating protesters for no just cause.
Akinyode said;
They arrested about 29 of our people. Security officials made them to lie down and beat them. Even as a lawyer I was harassed. They pushed me around. This is very undemocratic.
The police in Lagos also dispersed scores of #RevolutionNow protesters who gathered at under bridge, Ikeja.
The protest, which kicked off around 10:00 a.m. in the state was dead on arrival as the police barricaded their exit to Ikeja, Alausa, and started shooting tear gas into the air to disperse the crowd.
The action of the police met with some resistance as some of the protesters faced the police, lying on the floor, holding their placards, protesting vehemently.
This led to the police shooting into the air to disperse the angry protesters, while many of them were chased away.
Many of the protesters found their ways into computer village, while others ran to different parts of Ikeja for safety, being chased by police officers.
Policemen also disrupted and arrested some protesters in Osogbo, Osun State.
The leader of the group, Omoyele Sowore, who is a former Presidential candidate, was detained last year for about three months while court orders for his release were ignored.
He was eventually released following pressure from the international community and human rights organisations. Several protesters who were arraigned in court won their cases.
See some photos and videos of protesters below;
VIDEO: Abuja protesters deliver passionate message of #RevolutionNow despite @PoliceNG assault on peaceful protesters pic.twitter.com/q58C5086Fx
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
#RevolutionNow Policemen disrupt a peaceful protest in Osun State, Osogbo. Protesters were arrested for only speaking the rights and voicing out their ills. We are all in this mess together, but the Oppressing Tools doesn’t want to know. pic.twitter.com/FibZTYM7H1
— Adegboye Emmanuel (@Adegboy57492550) August 5, 2020
#WATCH: #RevolutionNow protest going on at Ikeja Under Bridge pic.twitter.com/LOD6rd7juV
— P.M. NEWS (@pmnewsnigeria) August 5, 2020
