Amid the celebration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day anniversary, at least 30 people have been arrested by security operatives in an ongoing protest by the Revolution Now movement group.
The demostrators flooded the streets of Lagos on Thursday to express their dismay over bad governance in the country, chanting songs of solidarity.
This is, however, happening while a march-past in commemoration of Nigeria’s diamond jubilee was ongoing at the Eagle Square in Abuja with the President, Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries in attendance.
Prior to the protest, the Coalition for Revolution codenamed #RevolutionNow had, in a statement, called for the President’s resignation.
“The Coalition for Revolution is calling on all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to come out en masse on, October 1, and participate in a massive peaceful protest to demand the reversal of anti-people policies implemented by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration,” the movement stated.
“These harsh policies that have bored a burdensome hole into the pockets of the Nigerian people are coming at a time when citizens are recovering from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global health crisis that was also mismanaged by the Buhari government, plunging already struggling citizens into deeper financial problems.
“It also comes at a time when there is an unprecedented dictatorial-style crackdown on free speech, dissent, activism, journalism and the right to associate and congregate peacefully and protest.”
