Revolution protests in Abuja.

Nigeria Police yesterday deployed security operatives in Lagos and Abuja as the force arrested members of the #RevolutionNow group. The deployment and arrests were meant to prevent planned protests by the group.

The protests, called by Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore and Coalition for Revolution (CORE) and tagged national day of action, were scheduled to take place simultaneously across major cities in Nigeria in commemoration of the first anniversary of #RevolutionNow Movement, which held on August 5, 2019.

Co-conveners of the protest had, in a statement signed by Baba Aye and Gbenga Komolafe, said: “To mark the one year of #RevolutionNow Movement and re-launch the campaign for an end to unabating looting of public resources and revamping of the social and economic fabric of our country, the Coalition for Revolution will stage a massive demonstration of the collective anger and deprivation of Nigerian people taking off from two main points in Lagos and simultaneously across major cities in Nigeria.”

But no sooner had the protest started in Lagos than security forces fired tear gas at protesters at Ikeja Under Bridge and on the Third Mainland Bridge.

As the protesters assembled at Ikeja Under Bridge chanting solidarity songs, armed policemen disrupted the march with tear gas.

The protesters carried placards and banners to demand good governance. Some of the banners read: ‘Nigerians are sick and tired of poverty, corruption, injustice and untimely deaths’; ‘Say no to injustice’, ‘Yes to living wage for unemployed youths’, ‘Stop destroying our markets!’

The protesters gathered at 8:00a.m. and were set to commence a march by 10:00a.m.,

Some protesters resisted the action and the police had to shoot into the air to disperse them.

Some of the protesters were arrested by the police. One of those arrested was Agba Jalingo, publisher of Cross River Watch, who was only recently freed after nearly six months in detention.

Others were Omolara Alagbala, Kelly Orodu, Kolawole Adenekan, Fela Samson Okafor, Akinnubi Margaret, Orunsolu Oluremi, Oyebiyi Ademola, Akinnubi Deborah, Akinnubi Margaret, Akinnubi Emmanuel, Kehinde Babatunde Joseph, Adedoyin Olorunshola Truth, Rachael Ochuwa, Adeyeye Femi, Babatunde Famutimi, Akingbade Olamide, Nonike Okechukwu, and Sodiq Ogunshola.

They were all detained in Area “F” Police Station in Ikeja, Lagos.

A mobile court sitting in Oshodi, Lagos State has, however, set Abba Jalingo and 18 other protesters free.

Despite their arrest and appearance at mobile courts, members of the group in Abuja manoeuvred their way out of police vigilance and staged a protest at Berger Roundabout.

Some of the protesters earlier arrested at the Unity Fountain were reportedly arraigned at a mobile court sitting at Eagles Square on the allegation that they flouted the COVID-19 guidelines.

More arrests, it was gathered, were made at the Berger Roundabouts after the group’s successful protest.

The protest, planned to hold in states of the Federation and outside the country, demanded good governance in the country.

Although leader of the group, Omoyele Sowore, was absent, a member, who is a lawyer, Pelumi Jemigbesi, addressed journalists on reasons for the protest.

A key demand of protesters, he said, was that the 1999 Constitution should be scrapped to pave the way for Nigerians to decide on new constitution through referendum.

“The 1999 Constitution is a fraudulent document, scrap it and let the people make their own constitution,” he stated.

Other demands, according the lawyer, are the abolition of tuition fees in universities and secondary schools.

“Stop the killings in the country and sack all incompetent service chiefs.

“Stop all estimated billing by the power companies, provide pre-paid meters for free, and communities must have the right to audit electricity bills they get and review licences of all discos,” he added.

He also called for the release of political prisoners, “including El Zakzaky and his wife.”

The Abuja protest was initially scheduled to hold at Federal Secretariat but following heavy presence of security operatives, the protesters opted for another venue near Transcorp Hilton Hotel, which is close to Unity Fountain. But again, the protesters could not converge because operatives took over the new venue before they got there.

Protesters, who arrived at the Unity Fountain from the Mararaba end of the city, were arrested and taken away in trucks.