The Lagos State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Adekunle Taofeek, has said that protesters were attacked and intimidated by suspected political thugs and transport union-linked thugs before the August 5 “Festival of the Oppressed” protest could commence in Lagos.
Taofeek said this in a statement on Wednesday, following the disruption at the protesters’ convergence point at Maryland.
He said upon his arrival at the protest ground, he was confronted with what he described as a heavy presence of police officers and men wearing APC/NURTW-related clothing.
“I arrived late at the protest ground due to the severe Lagos traffic. However, upon getting to Maryland, what I witnessed was deeply disturbing,” he said.
He said according to various accounts, armed men “attacked and disrupted the gathering even before the protest officially commenced.”
According to him, he had to remove his “TINUBU MUST GO” T-shirt after noticing the presence of security personnel and individuals wearing “Renewed Hope” clothing bearing President Bola Tinubu’s image.
He said he was accompanied by three other comrades and that they deliberately avoided drawing attention to themselves.
“At one point, we stopped at a shop, sat down and bought drinks while the suspected thugs continued to monitor our movements. I remained calm because my immediate priority was to ensure the safety of the three comrades who were with me,” he said.
Taofeek said they later encountered about 20 other protesters who had fled the convergence point for their safety.
He also claimed that they saw a white vehicle surrounded by police officers at a roundabout, with a man wearing a white and green cap.
He said he and his companions eventually left the area in a commercial tricycle towards Anthony, where they went to “lay low” for their safety.
Taofeek described the incident as a threat to democracy and civic freedom, saying peaceful citizens should not have to “disguise themselves, remove protest shirts, hide in shops or flee through streets” for demanding accountability and good governance.
He called on the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the disruption, identify those responsible and protect citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
“We will not be intimidated out of our legitimate demand for a better society,” he said.
“The Festival of the Oppressed may have been disrupted today, but the grievances that brought Nigerians to the streets remain unresolved.”
Condemnations have trailed the attack on the protesters by suspected hoodlums and the firing of tear gas at the protesters.
The police claimed to have provided cover for the protesters and only fired the tear gas to prevent a hijack of the action by hoodlums.
The protesters however claimed the police officers shielded the hoodlums who came to attack them.
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