When the police moved in, they tried to get the remaining demonstrators to leave. Shortly after, a group of people who the demonstrators claimed were hired to cause trouble for the event appeared from across the street and started chasing them out.
The fourth day of a nonviolent protest at Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos State, was ruined on Sunday by thugs.
After starting peacefully, the protest saw a notable intensification at 10:30 a.m.
When a lawyer going by the name JP asked demonstrators to vacate the area, citing President Bola Tinubu’s recent national speech, tensions erupted.
Still, a group led by Peace Action Transformation’s 70-year-old Adegboyega Adeniji was adamant about carrying on with the demonstration.
When the police moved in, they tried to get the remaining demonstrators to leave. Shortly after, a group of people who the demonstrators claimed were hired to cause trouble for the event appeared from across the street and started chasing them out.
By 11:30 a.m., the situation had deteriorated as the group of hoodlums returned and forced all protesters out of the area. The police have since established a presence at the park.
Earlier in the day, security agents had restricted protesters from marching beyond the designated area at Gani Fawehinmi Park. The protesters complied and returned to the specified location.
The on Sunday. In previous days, police responses included the use of tear gas, drawing criticism from civil society organizations.