October 1 Protest: Police Secure Key Areas As APC, Opposition Face Off
The Nigeria Police Force has deployed personnel to strategic flashpoints nationwide ahead of the planned October 1 protest organized by the #FearlessOctober1 movement. This demonstration, which follows the #EndBadGovernance protest in August, is set to coincide with the country’s Independence Day celebrations. Organizers, including human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore, insist the protest will go ahead despite warnings from authorities, citing the government’s failure to address issues such as rising food costs, insecurity, and economic mismanagement.
Police commands across various states, including Niger, Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos, have heightened security measures to prevent any breakdown of law and order. In some cases, they have engaged local leaders and stakeholders to maintain peace, while others have expressed concerns about potential violence, particularly following the violent protests in August. Several police commissioners, such as those in Kogi, Kwara, and Cross River states, have urged protesters to reconsider their actions, stressing the risk of protests being hijacked by criminals.
While some state police commands, such as in Lagos and Rivers, have imposed restrictions on the protests, opposition parties like the PDP and Labour Party argue that the economic hardships facing Nigerians are fueling these protests, not political agitation. They accuse the government of worsening living conditions with policies like the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, which have drastically increased the cost of living.
The ruling APC, however, has warned against allowing protests to derail the government’s plans, calling for patience as the Tinubu administration works to address the nation’s economic challenges. Despite these appeals, the #FearlessOctober1 movement remains resolute, with organizers planning to proceed with protests in key locations such as Eagle Square in Abuja and the Ikeja Under Bridge in Lagos.
