Police tighten security across Nigeria as APC and PDP clash over October 1 protest

Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has tightened security across the country as organisers of the October 1 protest insist on going ahead with the demonstration on Independence Day as planned.

Two months after the #EndBadGovernance protest, some groups have been mobilising citizens for a fresh protest on the 64th Independence Day anniversary.

According to the organisers, the demonstration tagged #FearlessOctober1 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.

Reacting to the planned protest, the Federal Government, yesterday, urged the protesters to sheathe their swords and refrain from acts of violence.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “The Federal Government is appealing to all Nigerians to remain calm and refrain from any acts of violence as Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence anniversary and 25 years of unbroken democracy.

“The government of President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring peace, unity and prosperity for all. It is also important for Nigerians to see opportunity in the various policies of the government, and use it for their betterment.”

‘Why we’ll protest’

However, Adeyanju said there is no going back on the protest because: “the issues from the August 1 nationwide peaceful protest have not been addressed, citizens have the right to protest.

“Irrespective of insinuations of government, arraignment of protesters, intimidation, and attempts to criminalize protest, citizens have insisted and expressed their rights that they must protest. It is a constitutionally guaranteed right that cannot be derogated in any circumstances.

‘’I believe that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that citizens enjoy constitutionally guaranteed rights, and all must protect their rights.

“They are hitting the streets on October 1 because the protesters’ demands have not been met. Not one has been met, and even the promise by the President that ‘please shelve the protest I am going to engage with you’; none and nothing has happened. The President has refused to engage, which means that the President really takes the people for granted.”

Police tighten security

As the orgnisers refused to back down, the Nigerian police have tightened security in flashpoints nationwide.

The Niger State Police Command has deployed personnel and security resources to prevent any disruptions during the Independence Day celebrations.

In Suleja, a significant town in Niger, reports indicate that six people may have died when protesters attempted to storm a police station amid the #Endbadgovernance protests.

In Minna, the state capital, armed security operatives have been stationed at key locations, including major markets and road junctions, while police patrol vehicles are actively monitoring the city to maintain peace.

Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated, “The Niger State Police Command will deploy sufficient personnel and operational assets to ensure public safety. The Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, has instructed Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders, and DPOs to enhance police visibility in their jurisdictions to prevent any disturbances.”

Additionally, the Command has engaged with labor leaders, youth, student representatives, and other stakeholders to maintain the current peace for the state’s economic growth.

Similarly, the Kano State Police Command has positioned its personnel strategically. PPRO Abdullahi Haruna emphasized the need for peace and order, stating, “We learn from the past.” He also mentioned discussions with the Nigerian Patriotic Front Movement regarding their planned peaceful protest, highlighting the potential risks involved.

In Kaduna, the police have taken preventive measures against possible violence related to the planned protests. A senior officer confirmed the deployment of personnel throughout the state to avoid a repeat of the violent protests seen in August.

Kogi State’s Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has advised protest organizers to reconsider their plans, suggesting they allow the government more time to address economic issues.

Ramhan Nansel, PPRO for Nasarawa, stated that the command is well-prepared for the Independence Day celebrations, ensuring peace across all 13 Local Government Areas.

The Borno State command has also deployed officers to key locations to maintain order, while Katsina’s command has mobilized both human and intelligence resources for public safety.

In Kwara, police have invited protest organizers for discussions to ensure the safety of the event and prevent any disruption by miscreants.

Meanwhile, police commands in Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, and Sokoto have reported heightened security measures, despite not being officially notified of any planned protests.

In the southern states, police are also ramping up security. Ogun State’s Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, announced significant deployments to vulnerable areas and engagement with various community groups to discourage unauthorized protests.

Bayelsa’s police have committed to providing security for protesters while maintaining order. In Rivers, officials have stated they will not tolerate any disruptions, and Delta’s command is on high alert.

Edo State’s police are maintaining security measures from the recent governorship election to ensure a peaceful Independence Day, while Cross River’s command is prepared to resist any unapproved protests.

The Ebonyi command indicated readiness to deploy personnel to ensure peace, despite not having received any notification of planned protests.

APC, PDP clash

The ruling All Progressives Congress has warned the opposition not to throw the country into anarchy by encouraging Nigerian youths to participate in the planned nationwide protest.

But major opposition parties in the country dissociated themselves, saying the masses who have been on the receiving end of the hardship brought about by President Tinubu’s economic reforms do not need any prompting to hit the street in protest.

The National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, in an interview with The PUNCH warned against disrupting governance and a breakdown of law and order.

He said, “What happened in the past (protest) has not benefited anybody. The country was shut down literally while people’s property and lives were wasted. The same opposition that encouraged and sponsored them chickened out. They didn’t do anything. Now, if the people are allowed to be deceived by the opposition which are not after the country’s progress but their own interest, they will continue to derail and find themselves in a position they can’t understand.

“So I advise that much as protest is a permitted tool under democracy, abuse of that tool is something that will not be a good seed for the development of any country. My advice is for them to exercise patience and continue to have faith in the President. He has said it times without number that he means well for the country and the youth in particular.

“They shouldn’t allow the opposition that has been rejected by the populace and the poor to continue deceiving them. They have nothing to offer, nothing to offer but this callous deceit and campaign of calumny against a government that is all out to rejig and improve the lives of the citizens.”

The National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abdullahi Ibrahim, however, disagreed, accusing the APC-led government of embarrassing and torturing the Nigerian mass right from the moment they took over governance.

“This government has been an embarrassment right from the time they took over power in 2023. It’s a government that has not taken the pain of evaluating the implication of its adverse policies, which has left the people in misery and squalor. It is a government that does not accept dissent or criticism. It’s a government that is known for arrogance and high-handedness.

“Everybody has come to accept that their greatest mistake as citizens was to allow these people to come in place as government. You can see how determined the citizenry is. It doesn’t require any opposition to push it into taking a decision. The country is itself protesting against the hard reality that it has found itself. Nobody needs to tell anybody what it is because we go to the same market.

“So the untold reality, the hardship, the monumental frustration in the land is what is prompting this protest; not PDP or any opposition. Everything they have brought in, Nigerians have disagreed with them and they have not changed. The Tinubu’s government has carried on as if they have conquered the people or the nation. No opposition, by the way, is sponsoring this protest.,” he lamented.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, also shared Ibrahim’s sentiment.

He said, “The opposition cannot be held responsible for people protesting in Nigeria. The masses are feeling the pang of hunger and a hungry man they say is an angry one. I would say that the government, through their actions and inaction, are propelling the public to agitate. It’s within the right of the population to agitate.

“If they are buying fuel at N1,300 Naira as against what they were buying as against what they bought before this government took over, paying electricity more than 300 per cent of what they were getting, buying a bag of rice that once sold for N35,000 for N100,000, why blame it on the opposition? The opposition too are hungry, just like the people in government.

“The supporters of this government are also hungry. After all, we don’t have a separate market we buying goods from. I think the only advice we have for them is to do the right thing. They should do better than they are doing now.”