A human rights group, Take It Back Movement, has kicked against the warnings issued by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, ahead of a possible protest in the state against the economic hardship being currently experienced in the country.
The police spokesman in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Sunday, quoted the Commissioner of Police, Fayoade, as warning intending protesters against violence or acts that could infringe on the rights of others, such as obstruction of traffic or paralying the commercial activities in the state.
Fayoade assured residents of Lagos State that necessary security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property, with or without any protest.
He said officers and men had been deployed to ensure the free flow of traffic and ensure a peaceful environment for the conduct of lawful engagements.
“Police will live up to the mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental rights of others.
“Police enjoin all peace-loving residents of Lagos State to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation.
“Adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure the safety and security of all,’’ Fayoade said.
But reacting, the National Coordinator of the TIB, Juwon Sanyaolu, who maintained that the protests would go on as planned, said it was wrong for the police to issue warnings against the protest.
“Protest is a fundamental human right. As a matter of fact, every concerned Lagosian will join the protest because we are all suffering from the hardship created by the government. The policemen and their families are equally suffering from this hardship but I know they must defend their paymasters. Nobody except the government is infringing on the rights of Nigerians through policies that make lives unbearable. They must be held accountable,” Sanyaolu told The PUNCH.
The development is coming on the heels of protests breaking out in some states over the high cost of living and soaring food prices which the demonstrators alleged were becoming unbearable.
A recent protest took place in Ibadan, Oyo State. The PUNCH observed that protesters gathered around the Mokola area in the state wielding placards with various inscriptions such as ‘End food hike and inflation,’ ‘The poor are starving,’ and ‘Tinubu, don’t forget your promises,’ among others.
