Protest: Police, DSS, Military Won't Stop Us From Embarking on Planned October 1st Demonstration - Protest Organizers

By:Israel Adeleke, Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

Despite separate court orders restricting public protests in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States to designated venues, organizers of the #FearlessOctober1 protests have vowed to proceed with their planned demonstrations, stating that coercion by the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the military will not deter them.

The #fearlessinoctober protests are scheduled to coincide with Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day being organized in response to the hardships triggered by the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira. 

TTheorganizers, led by the Take It Back Movement, have emphasized that their right to peaceful assembly and protest is constitutionally guaranteed, and they have already written to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting security for the event.

The National Coordinator of the movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and the Director of Mobilisation, Damilare Adenola, confirmed that mobilization efforts were at top gear as protesters are expected to gather at Ikeja Under Bridge at 7:30 am. 

They reiterated their determination to proceed with the protest despite the legal constraints imposed by the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government, Ogun StateGovernment and other stat players.

In response, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), reaffirmed that a Lagos High Court ruling restricts protests to two venues—Freedom Park and Peace Park. 

Pedro emphasized that, while the state government acknowledges the fundamental rights of citizens to protest, these rights are not absolute and must be exercised within the bounds of the law. 

He warned that organizing protests outside the designated venues would be in violation of the court order, which was initially issued ahead of the “EndBadGovernance” protest.

Pedro also noted that legal action is pending to make the restrictions permanent, urging organizers to comply with the current directives. 

He stressed that any violation of the court order could have serious legal consequences, warning that the government would not tolerate actions that disrupt public order and safety.

Despite these warnings, the #FearlessOctober1 organizers remain resolute, insisting that no state agency will prevent them from exercising their constitutional right to protest.

In a related development, an High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has restricted members of the #FearlessInOctober protest groups to specific locations like MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Gateway International Stadium in Sagamu, Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode and Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in Ota.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News gathered that Justice Tajudeen A. Okunsokan issued the ruling after an application by the Ogun State Attorney-General in suit no AB/667/2024. 

The respondents include: Messrs Afolabi Adeboye, Ifemosu Michael, Lekan Soneye, Bestman Okereafor (Progressive Students Movement), Francis Adeyanju (National Association of Nigerian Students), and Thomas Kehinde (National Association of Ogun Students). 

OTN News further gathered that other respondents are Yinka Folarin (Committee for the Defence of Human Rights), Nicholas Eko (Socialist Democratic Movement), Koyejo Morenikeji, persons unknown, and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police.

The order mandates protesters to gather only at the specified locations and directs the Commissioner of Police to enforce the ruling for seven days,  

as stipulated under Order 39 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2014.