Nigeria
Security forces have fired teargas at protesters in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos Monday morning. The Revolution Now protests called for by activists had been expressly outlawed by the police who said it was treasonable.
Photos shared on social media showed people gathered at the Lagos national stadium where people were gathering for the event.
The forceful dispersal of protesters led to some scuffles that left a number of people bruised. Protesters were heard singing a famous revolutionary anthem about solidarity and fighting for their rights.
VIDEO: #RevolutionNow protesters singing at #Lagos National stadium#FreeSoworeNow pic.twitter.com/kcRgYuLs0u
— TheCable (@thecableng) August 5, 2019
A leader of the protest and publisher of Nigeria’s online news portal Sahara Reporters, Omowole Sowore was over the weekend detained by intelligence operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
Local media reported that his arrest was linked to plans to mobilised people in Lagos and other parts of the country for a revolution protest tagged ‘Days of Rage’ to demand a better Nigeria.
The arrest has elicited a wide range of condemnation on social media with people accusing the government of seeking to stifle dissent and the right to peaceful protest.
EXCLUSIVE: CCTV Footage of The Moment
— Sahara Reporters (SaharaReporters) August 5, 2019YeleSoworeWas Criminally Abducted By The DSS Operatives In #lagos
Details Shortly pic.twitter.com/H4d3HDIvrS
01:25
Guinea's opposition urges ECOWAS intervention as vote looms
01:09
Cameroon: Protesters call for end to bloodshed from anglophone crisis
01:20
Pascal Affi N'Guessan Heeds Anti-Ouattara Civil Disobedience Calls
00:52
Eni's CEO to face the courts over corruption
01:38
I' Coast: Tensions flare as candidate urges "civil disobedience"
01:00
Facebook reinforces its presence in Africa