Police fires tear gas at protesters in Lagos
- Posted on Thursday 19 January 2012 - 15:00By Ayo Okulaja, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, NigeriaCanisters of tear gas were on Thursady fired at peaceful protesters in Lagos, who were demanding good governance.The protesters numbering about 50, under the aegis National Action of Coalition of Democratic Forces, led by former Presidential aspirant; Mr Tunji Braithwaite, were attacked by the military and mobile police officers who were on guard at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square.
The incident left a number of people injured and stressed with one person fainting as he fell on the ground just as the canisters were fired into the crowd. People around, ran back to him to give urgent medical attention after reviving him.
Mr Braithwaite; an octogenarian, who led the protest with another age mate; Professor Ben Nwanbueze were also not spared in the attack as the old men ran for their lives.
The peaceful protest which had been endorsed by the Lagos state police command with a permit, commenced in front of the Lagos state House of Assembly complex at about 10:30am, where the protesters were addressed by the Deputy-Speaker of the House; Mr Kolawole Taiwo.
Pledging his solidarity to the protesters, he urged to be “peaceful” as “they exercise their democratic rights.” When asked to join the protest to the Freedom Square at Ojota as a sign of his confessed solidarity, Mr Taiwo smiled back and urged the protesters to go ahead but refused to join them. He returned back into the chambers of the complex.
However, just as the Deputy-Speaker finished addressing the protesters, Assistant Commissioner of Police; Tunji Shobulo led a team of police officers, who ordered the protesters to seize the walk. But the protesters continued and promised not to retreat, chanting solidarity songs as they carried boards that convey their demands for good governance “at all levels of government” in Nigeria.
On getting to the high-way by 7up bottling company, the military and police officers had cordoned off the road to Ojota, diverting the heavy traffic on the road, causing traffic on other routes. The protesters persisted until canisters of tear gas were fired at them, dispersing the peaceful walk.
Amongst the protesters were former Minister of Finance; Dr Idika Kalu, Professor Ben Nwanbueze, lawyer; Festus Keyamo , foremost broadcaster; Funmi Iyanda, constitutional lawyer; Dr Tunji Abayomi and Wale Ogundipe.
A distraught Funmi Iyanda expressing her disappointment was bitter at the failure of the government to arrest members of Boko Haram as one them escaped from detention. “They could not stop the Boko Haram who escapes but they can stop unarmed protesters who are on a peaceful protest” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Abayomi stated that “I am very disappointed at the reaction of the government to a peaceful protest which is just to express our anger about the poor-governance of our country at not just the federal government but all levels of government.”
“It is sad and this means we have not yet moved beyond the military mentality which means that we still depend on the military to secure our democracy and liberty” he said, adding that “this is the tragedy of our time” in a very sober tone.
The military has been on prowl of the street of Lagos since Monday when then Presidency quelled a protest against the removal o fuel subsidy in the city. The state governor, religious leaders and civil organizations have all demanded that the soldiers be withdrawn from the street but the Minister of Defence on Wednesday, insisted that, “they will remain until peace returns to the states” where they’ve been deployed.
The protesters however vowed to persist with their democratic right and announced that they will be joining the forthcoming “Victory Protest” at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square on Saturday. The Victory Protest is convened by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and they have vowed to proceed to the now cordoned freedom Square despite the heavy presence of armoured tanks and gun-wielding soldiers around the park.
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