The RevolutionNow and #TakeItBack movements on Wednesday staged protests in Lagos and Abuja over worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity across Nigeria and xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The demonstrations, held under the banner of the “Festival of the Oppressed,” saw protesters in both cities calling on the government to take urgent action to address the challenges facing Nigerians.
In Abuja, the protest was led by human rights activist and convener of the RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore.
Dozens of demonstrators marched with placards and banners bearing inscriptions condemning xenophobic attacks in South Africa and criticising the Nigerian government over the country’s worsening security situation and rising cost of living.
The protesters urged the Federal Government to take decisive diplomatic steps to protect Nigerians living in South Africa while addressing the deepening economic crisis and persistent insecurity at home, which they said had pushed millions of citizens into hardship.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Sowore said the demonstration was meant to remind Nigerians of the need for what he described as an imminent revolution.
He said the movement would continue to demand accountability from the government and advocate reforms aimed at improving the welfare and security of Nigerians.
The protests were peaceful in Abuja, while a similar demonstration in Lagos was disrupted after security operatives dispersed protesters with tear gas following an attempt by suspected hoodlums to infiltrate the gathering.
Sowore said, “Today, August 5, we have come to remind the whole country that the revolution is necessary and imminent. And that nothing can stop that revolution. When the people are ready, barbed wire will not stop us. The police will even join, the army will join.
“But we have a number of demands that we must reiterate here. And they include that Nigerian workers must be paid N500,000 per month as their minimum wage. We have also asked that they release Nnamdi Kanu from unjust and unlawful detention. That they discontinue all forms of trial, whether it’s cybercrime, treason trials against activists and Nigerians who are raising up their voice against bad governance in this country.
“Most importantly, to announce that Tinubu’s tenure is over. Tinubu must go! We have our colleagues in Lagos, in Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and different places who are also taking action today. This is just the beginning of a series of actions that will be taken. And we urge you, wherever you may be, Nigerians, to join us.
“To bring about a new era and a new order in this country. We are tired of hunger, starvation, corruption and incompetence. And we are ready and willing to liberate our country. Don’t forget that on our way here, they also hired some urchins to confront us. But when those ones saw superior firepower, they let go. And that’s how we got here. We are tired of foolish people managing our security agencies.”
Protesters teargassed in Lagos
In Lagos, protesters under the #TakeItBack Movement gathered in the Maryland area, where they sang solidarity songs and chanted slogans, including “Revolution”, before security operatives dispersed the crowd with tear gas.
The demonstration, which began peacefully, turned chaotic after individuals suspected to be hoodlums allegedly infiltrated the gathering and attacked protesters by throwing stones.
Some journalists covering the protest were also reportedly assaulted during the melee.
Police officers deployed to the scene fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd, sending protesters, journalists and bystanders fleeing in different directions.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Lagos State Coordinator of the #TakeItBack Movement, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek, alleged that armed men attacked protesters gathered at Maryland, the designated convergence point, while police officers maintained a heavy presence in the area.
According to him, the protest was scheduled to proceed from Maryland to Ojota but was disrupted before participants could begin the march.
Taofeek said he arrived at the venue late because of heavy traffic, but found police officers and men allegedly dressed in APC and NURTW-related clothing combing the streets in search of protesters.
He alleged that he was forced to remove a T-shirt bearing the inscription, “TINUBU MUST GO,” after noticing the heavy presence of security operatives and individuals wearing “Renewed Hope” apparel displaying President Bola Tinubu’s image.
He said he was accompanied by three other activists and that they deliberately avoided drawing attention to themselves as they moved through the area.
According to him, they temporarily took refuge in a shop where they bought drinks while suspected hoodlums monitored their movements.
Taofeek further claimed that they later met about 20 other protesters who had fled the protest ground to escape the alleged attack.
He said he advised them to immediately leave the area because the streets around Maryland had been flooded with individuals allegedly searching for protesters.
Also speaking, the Head of Legal Aid of the #TakeItBack Movement, Bolaji Oluwatosin, condemned the disruption of the protest by security operatives.
“It is disheartening that Nigeria has degenerated to a state of lawlessness where the constitutionally empowered institution, the Nigeria Police, and the government, expected not only to secure the lives of Nigerian citizens but also to guarantee our continued existence, have decided to disrupt a peaceful demonstration by the Nigerian people led by the #TakeItBack Movement,” he said.
Reacting to allegations that police harassed and intimidated protesters, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, denied the claims, insisting that officers were deployed to protect demonstrators and maintain law and order.
According to him, a combined team of Mobile Police officers and conventional policemen was deployed to secure the protest and prevent a breakdown of public order.
He said the protest proceeded peacefully until security operatives observed hoodlums attempting to exploit the gathering to rob unsuspecting residents and cause violence.
“The protest started peacefully with policemen providing the protesters the much-needed protection.
“At a stage, it was observed that hoodlums tried to hijack the process to unleash terror and rob unsuspecting members of the public of their belongings.
“Those dispersed were the hoodlums who tried to hijack the entire process,” Fatai said.
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy had returned to the area, although security personnel remained on the ground to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
August 5 has since become an annual day of action for supporters of the #RevolutionNow movement to stage protests against bad governance and demand political and socio-economic reforms.
The movement was launched by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore on August 5, 2019.
In recent years, Nigerians have organised several protests over worsening economic hardship, which many attribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s twin policies of removing petrol subsidy and floating the naira.
Between August 1 and 10, 2024, thousands of Nigerians took part in nationwide protests under the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, demanding action over the rising cost of living.
The protests turned violent in some states, with reports of deaths, injuries and widespread destruction of property.
In Kano State, 12 protesters were reportedly killed, while several others sustained injuries. The victims were alleged to have been shot by security personnel deployed to contain the demonstrations.
Amnesty International said peaceful protests over government policies had become “a matter of life and death in Nigeria” and reported that at least 24 people were killed nationwide during the demonstrations, with Kano recording the highest number of fatalities. The organisation listed Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger and Kaduna among the states where protesters were also killed.
Amnesty International further accused the authorities of attempting to suppress evidence of the killings and failing to hold security personnel accountable for the deaths.
