Checkout Magazine has learnt that state commands of the Nigeria Police Force have deployed men in flashpoints.
This is as the organisers of the October 1 protest insist on going ahead with the demonstration on Independence Day as planned.
If the protest holds, it will be the second time in two months that angry Nigerians would hit the streets in disapproval of the hardship in the country occasioned by the hike in petrol price and electricity tariff and the floating of the naira by President Bola Tinubu’s government.
According to the organisers, the #FearlessOctober1 demonstration is a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which took place from August 1 to 10.
They added that the latest demonstration was necessitated by the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands, which include hunger in the land, rising cost of hunger, insecurity, government’s wastefulness, electoral reforms, human capital development amongst others.
The group explained that the FCT protest would be held at the Eagle Square, the same venue of the Independence Day parade, while the Lagos protest would take place at the Ikeja Under Bridge.
On Sunday, human rights advocate and leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, said they were “fully prepared” for the protest, adding that they would hit the streets at 7am on the scheduled date.
“We are fully prepared. Our organisers are on the ground and would not be going into hiding. These are revolutionary times, Nigerians will hit the streets en mass starting from 7am on October 1,” he said.
In Lagos, the protest organisers plan to commence their march at the Ikeja Under Bridge at 7:30am.
Checks revealed that the Niger State Police Command has deployed personnel and security assets to avert any breakdown of law and order during the Independence Day celebration in the state.
On Sunday in Minna, the state capital, gun-wielding security operatives were stationed in some of the major places, including popular markets and road junctions. Police patrol vehicles had also started moving around the city to ensure that peace was maintained in the state.
The Kano State Police Command has also deployed its personnel to strategic positions.
In Kaduna, the state police command has taken proactive measures to prevent potential violence during the planned protest in the state.
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed the deployment of personnel across the state aimed at avoiding a repeat of the August protest, which turned violent in the state.
