Security personnel have been deployed on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to the Eagle Square and its surrounding areas in Abuja in anticipation of the End Bad Governance protest starting on Thursday, August 1.
According to reports there are over 300 security operatives present at the facility. Twenty-six military vans, 12 police patrol vehicles, and a Black Maria were seen parked at the venue.
This development comes after the organisers of the protest and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, failed to agree on the terms for the demonstration.
During a virtual meeting held with the IGP on Tuesday, it was revealed that the group rejected the proposal for a restricted protest. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the lawyer for the protest organisers, opposed the suggestion.
In attendance of the meeting were human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, along with other key members of the Take It Back Movement and other civil society organisations.
Adegboruwa said, “We agreed that the citizens of Nigeria are entitled to protest and that the police would not do anything that would hinder or jeopardize the exercise of that right. That was a basic thing we all agreed upon. We also agreed that police have a statutory duty to offer protection to citizens whenever they protest.
“Our area of disagreement was the area of confinement. The police prefer, based on the venue sent to them, we should protest in a confined arena. We insisted that we have a right to rally and embark on procession. They said they don’t have the manpower that would go round across all cities.”
In Lagos, there has been dispute over the protest locations. The Lagos State High Court ruled on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, that the demonstrations could only occur at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
This decision came after the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal
Pedro, SAN, filed a preemptive ex parte application to ensure public safety and prevent potential harm during the protests.
He said, “The police in Lagos State do not have sufficient manpower to provide security for protesters intending to demonstrate across all local government areas and public highways,” Pedro stated.
He added, “To prevent such outcomes, the Lagos State Government has designated two public spaces-Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park-where citizens can gather to express their views.
“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the state for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the state and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage,” he said.
