JUST IN: Tension As Over 300 Heavily Armed Soldiers, Police, Others Take Over Venues Of Nationwide Protest
On Tuesday, security forces, including soldiers and police, occupied Eagle Square in Abuja, the scheduled venue for the #EndBadGovernance protest planned for Thursday.
Over 300 security operatives, 26 military vans, 12 police patrol vehicles, and a Black Maria were observed at the location.
The takeover followed a disagreement between Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and protest organizers regarding the demonstration’s format. During a virtual meeting, the group, represented by solicitor Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, rejected the police proposal to confine the protests, emphasizing their right to rally freely. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and other key members of the Take It Back Movement were also in attendance.
Adegboruwa highlighted the group’s insistence on their right to protest without confinement, despite police concerns over manpower to manage widespread demonstrations.
In Lagos, the High Court restricted protests to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park. Justice Emmanuel Ogundare’s decision, following an application by Lagos Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, aimed to ensure public safety and prevent potential violence similar to the #EndSARS protests of 2020. Pedro argued the state’s police lacked sufficient manpower to secure widespread protests.
The court’s order, valid from August 1 to 10, mandates that protests be confined to designated areas, with the Lagos State Police Commissioner ensuring security and traffic management.
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The security deployment at Eagle Square raised concerns among civil servants and local residents, prompting some to consider staying away from work during the protests. Increased security measures were also observed around key locations in Abuja, with intensified surveillance by various security agencies and joint patrols by soldiers and police on major roads in Gwagwalada.
