Organisers of nationwide protests vow to continue with demonstrations despite police clampdown

ORGANISERS of today's nationwide protest against the hyper-inflation ravaging Nigeria have vowed to proceed with their demonstrations despite what they describe as government and police intimidation designed to make them cower.

Nigeria marks her 64th independence day anniversary today and to mark the day, a nationwide group of protesters have planned demonstrations to highlight what they have described as hardship and bad governance. At the moment, inflation is running at around 30% in Nigeria, pushing the price of many basic foodstuffs like rice, gari, yam, tomatoes, cooking oil, etc, beyond the reach of the common man.

Already, the Nigeria Police Force have said that protests would not be allowed to take place in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Denying the organisers’ allegations that they were being harassed and intimidated, the federal government pointed out that there was no need for the protest, asking the organisers to see opportunity in the various government policies and use them to better their lives.

Information minister Mohammed Idris, said the federal government will not join issues with anybody on the allegations but insisted that there is no need for the protest since the government is working hard to turn things around for the country. This came as the inspector-general of police Kayode Egbetokun, ordered water-tight security nationwide to create a safe and conducive environment for citizens to celebrate independence day.

He ordered the deployment of adequate human and tactical resources to enable a maximum level of security and a seamless celebration of independence day. Mr Egbetokun added that the police in synergy with other security agencies, will fortify various designated event venues and major highways across the country, to forestall any threats to lives and property as well as the celebration.

Despite the police stance the convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, insisted that there is no going back on today’s protest because only a revolution would save the country. Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Edo State were divided on the issue and protest coordinators across the 19 northern states have already pulled out on the grounds that organisers had not done enough to provide security for protesters.