The Take It Back Movement, Lagos State chapter, has demanded the immediate identification, arrest and prosecution of individuals who allegedly attacked peaceful protesters during Wednesday’s nationwide demonstration against economic hardship and poor governance.
The group also called for the resignation of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, accusing him of failing to protect protesters and uphold the rule of law.
The demands were contained in a statement titled, “Attack on Peaceful Protesters Is an Attack on Democracy,” signed by the movement’s Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Oluwatosin Adeyemi.
According to TIB, protesters had gathered at the designated venue after formally requesting police protection for the demonstration.
The group said it initially believed the heavy deployment of police officers was intended to secure the protest but alleged that armed thugs sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress attacked the protesters in the presence of the police.
“In the presence of officers of the Nigeria Police Force, armed thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) descended on peaceful protesters and attacked them,” the statement said.
TIB further alleged that the police failed to intervene and instead fired tear gas at protesters when they resisted the alleged assault.
“Rather than protecting citizens exercising their constitutional rights, the police stood by as the attacks occurred. When protesters resisted the assault, the police turned their weapons on the victims by firing tear gas to disperse the peaceful gathering,” the group alleged.
The movement described the incident as a violation of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to assemble freely and associate with others.
TIB also raised concerns over the neutrality of the Lagos police command, alleging that the state Commissioner of Police had recently been seen participating in activities associated with the City Boy Movement, a political group campaigning for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
The group said such conduct, if established, could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the police.
TIB consequently called on the commissioner to resign, alleging that he had failed in his constitutional duty to protect peaceful protesters.
The group also demanded that anyone who sponsored or coordinated the alleged attack be identified and prosecuted.
It said the government’s response to Nigerians facing inflation, hunger and rising living costs should not be violence or intimidation.
The TIB vowed to continue with peaceful and lawful democratic engagement, saying it would not be intimidated into silence.
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