LAGOS AUGUST 6TH (NEWSRANGERS)-The Lagos State chapter of the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement has alleged that suspected thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) violently disrupted the August 5 “Festival of the Oppressed” protest in Lagos, forcing demonstrators to flee before the march could commence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Lagos State Coordinator of the movement, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek, the group alleged that armed men attacked protesters gathered at Maryland, the designated convergence point for the protest, while police officers maintained a heavy presence in the area.
According to the statement, the protest was scheduled to proceed from Maryland to Ojota but was disrupted before participants could begin the march.
Taofeek said he arrived at the venue late because of heavy traffic but found police officers and men allegedly wearing APC and NURTW-related clothing combing the streets in search of protesters.
He alleged that he was forced to remove a T-shirt bearing the inscription, “TINUBU MUST GO,” after noticing the overwhelming presence of security operatives and individuals wearing “Renewed Hope” apparel displaying President Bola Tinubu’s image.
“For security reasons, I had to remove the shirt because of the heavy presence of police officers and men wearing ‘Renewed Hope’ clothing bearing President Bola Tinubu’s image,” he said.
He explained that he was accompanied by three other activists and that they deliberately avoided drawing attention to themselves as they moved through the area.
According to him, they temporarily sought refuge in a shop where they bought drinks while suspected thugs monitored their movements.
Taofeek further claimed that they later encountered about 20 other protesters who had fled the protest ground to escape the alleged attack.
He said he advised the group to immediately leave the area because the streets around Maryland had been flooded with individuals allegedly searching for protesters.
The activist also alleged that he observed a white vehicle stationed near the Maryland roundabout, surrounded by police officers.
According to him, a man inside the vehicle was wearing a white-and-green cap bearing the inscription “NURTW,” and what appeared to be a pump-action firearm was seen beside him.
He said he and the three activists accompanying him eventually escaped the area in a commercial tricycle and relocated to Anthony for safety.
The Take-It-Back Movement condemned what it described as an attack on citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
The group argued that peaceful protesters should not be compelled to remove protest clothing, hide in shops or flee for their lives simply because they were demanding accountability and good governance.
It also expressed concern over the alleged presence of individuals associated with the APC and NURTW around the protest venue alongside security personnel.
“If citizens who came peacefully to demand better governance can be hunted through the streets before a protest even begins, then we must ask ourselves what kind of democracy we are building,” the statement said.
The movement maintained that Nigerians protesting against hardship were themselves victims of worsening economic conditions, insecurity, unemployment and poor governance.
It called on the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the alleged attack, identify those responsible for intimidating protesters and ensure that citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly are protected.
“The Festival of the Oppressed may have been disrupted today, but the grievances that brought Nigerians to the streets remain unresolved,” the statement said.
“We demand good governance. We demand accountability. We demand justice. The struggle continues.”
SaharaReporters
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