Security operatives on Wednesday dispersed demonstrators who were carrying out a #RevoltuionNow protest in Abuja.
A team of security operatives including the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), and the Army, pursued both protesters and journalists from the scene of the protest.
The march was a commemoration of the nationwide protest stagged by members of the #RevolutionNow movement headed by Mr. Omoyele Sowore in 2019.
Sowore, the leader of the movement, was not among the demonstrators in Abuja on Wednesday, however, the march was led by Mr. Pelumi Olajegbensi, who called for a change in government, and insisted that there is a need for political revolution.
Mr. Olajegbensi accused the Federal Government of failing to protect Nigerians, citing insecurity, growing unemployment amongst other issues.
“There is a need for us as young people who are interested in the future of this country to raise our voices so we can be heard.
“Nigeria is currently in a state of emergency, our country has been reduced to a state of surrender; we cannot continue like this.
“Today, we are concerned as young people that a lot of our youths graduate from tertiary institutions and are unemployed because there is no job for them, this has increased the rate of crime in the country.
“Our demand today is for a conscious political revolution, a need for change in leadership,” he stressed.
Mr. Olajegbensi also called for a revamp in various sectors of the economy.
READ ALSO: SERAP Condemns Attack On #RevolutionNow Protesters
The #RevolutionNow demonstration did not hold in Abuja alone, there were protest marches in Ogun, Ondo and Osun states.
There have been several reports of persons arrested in the various states where the demonstration took place.
Channels Television gathered that about five protesters were arrested in Abeokuta within the early hours of the day, while seven people were arrested in Osogbo, however, it remains unclear how many persons were apprehended in other states.
Below are some photos from the scene of the protest in Abuja.
The arrest and manhandling of individuals who were part of the recent #RevolutionNow protest have stirred outrage all over social media.
Many persons who reacted to news of the various arrests, termed the actions of security agents, an infringement on the rights of citizens.
Our people are Ready and now on their way! no going back! #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/tT4v7s2QFe
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
#RevolutionNow Abuja team beat all the odds and had a powerful action, over 40 detained by the tyrannical regime of @mbuhari @PoliceNG pic.twitter.com/vvxDyB2scX
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
My good friend @Iam_dunnex a powerful activist in the #RevolutionNow movement, got arrested today at Osogbo, Osun.
He was arrested for speaking to the masses about the situation of the country.
Why was he arrested?He was Unarmed!
Don’t we have freedom of speech anymore?@segalink pic.twitter.com/HsCyRc5c2p— The Sweetch 💡 (@officialsweetch) August 5, 2020
The Army @HQNigerianArmy is trained for WAR not for attack of harmless protesters. #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/0AxgOEVX7N
— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) August 5, 2020
There is nowhere in our law that security agencies are empowered to attack & arrest peaceful protesters. The right to peaceful protests, assembly & association is fully guaranteed by the constitution (sec39&40).
Peaceful protest is not a crime!#RevolutionNow #OfficeOfTheCitizen pic.twitter.com/s4YFUt0l3M— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) August 5, 2020
Against all odds, the guys who planned the #RevolutionNow protest still went out to protest knowing fully well that the police, army and DSS would forcefully attack them.
And they were not disappointed, they were attacked.
That’s exactly the beginning of the Revolution.
— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) August 5, 2020
#RevolutionNow Policemen disrupt a peaceful protest in Osun State, Osogbo. Protesters were arrested for only speaking the rights and voicing out their ills. We are all in this mess together, but the Oppressing Tools doesn’t want to know. pic.twitter.com/FibZTYM7H1
— Adegboye Emmanuel (@Adegboy57492550) August 5, 2020
Nigerian Security Agents teargassed #RevolutionNow protesters. 😩😩😩 pic.twitter.com/vqaSBF0JNo
— Táíwò Àlàbí HO2/ #COVID19 (@taiwoalabiho2) August 5, 2020
Over 40 #RevolutionNow protesters arrested in Abuja.
God when?
When are we going to have a government and a police that will respect the rights of the people to peaceful protests?
GOD WHEN?
— ‘Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) August 5, 2020
This This young activist leading a #RevolutionNow rally in Oshogbo was snatched by security agents on camera Dunnex and Olawale “Mandate” Bakare are currently detained by lawless DSS at their facility in Osun State #Freedunnex #Freemandate pic.twitter.com/yXEzdDzEJT
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
This is the face of the soldier whole stole a number of phones from #RevolutionNow protesters at the Unity Fountain in Abuja! pic.twitter.com/oolGW6nCmU
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
#FreeMandate Now! https://t.co/4tyqIb94Et
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
#RevolutionNow action in Lagos with @agbajalingo_ who’s now been arrested by @PoliceNG in Lagos pic.twitter.com/j7JBP1nfyg
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
Nigerian security forces arresting #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja earlier today #nogoingback pic.twitter.com/iDH2WvPX1n
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
#RevolutionNow Comrades in Lagos being transported to a detention facility at Ikeja. They were accosted after a successful mass protest in Lagos earlier today. No going back! pic.twitter.com/WGSDzZdH7g
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
@PoliceNG still holding mostly female protesters on a bridge in Lagos, one the women has asthma attack. They claimed they are acting on the orders of Lagos Gov. @jidesanwoolu ! This is some of the most despicable act of mindless attack on peaceful protesters! pic.twitter.com/voYAmmGHzh
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 5, 2020
The arrest of protesters a violation of fundamental rights – ASCAB
The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) says the arrest of #RevolutionNow protesters is a violation of the fundamental human rights as ethrenched in the Nigerian constitution.
The coalition led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, in a communique on Wednesday, said scores of protesters took to the streets in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Osogbo in the morning hours on Wednesday, defying heavy security presence in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja where soldiers joined the police to arrest the first set of protesters.
ASCAB said the protests were legitimate and sum up an outburst of pent up anger against the increasingly intolerant Nigerian state.
The group said the poor economic conditions of Nigerians is pushing many people to the cliff edge of frustration, pangs, and pains.
“The arrests violate the constitution of Nigeria since every citizen has the right to peaceful assembly. The protesters did not break any known law. What they did was to express their democratic rights as aggrieved citizens” ASCAB National Chairman, Mr Femi Falana, (SAN) a foremost human rights lawyer said.
He praised the protesters for conducting themselves in peaceful manners without resorting to violence.
“We saw young men and women coming out to protest against injustice. This is in line with democratic tradition anywhere in the world. The arrests and violent attacks on the protesters represent a grievous violation of the constitution that the security operatives should uphold and defend” Falana said.
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters saying any attempt to continue to detain them has legal implications for the Federal Government.
Mr. Falana noted that there is no wrongdoing in having harmless youths protest and demand for an end to corruption and bad governance.
The human rights activist also said that it is within the rights of the protesters to seek the release of Sahara Publisher, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, as well as ask for the provision of palliatives for millions of extremely poor Nigerians, improvement in Nigeria-s poor health system and increase in wages for workers who are currently battered by the impact of the backlog of arrears and salaries owed by many state governments and the private sector.