Protesters on the streets
CSOs defy Lagos police, organise street protests
There were protests in Lagos on Monday organised by members of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, over biting high cost of living and soaring food prices.
The protesters, under the aegis of a human rights group tagged “Take It Back Movement,” carried placards with various inscriptions in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos State.
Indeed, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, had over the weekend, warned against any protest in Lagos as the police felt it could easily be hijacked by hoodlums. The police also said protests would disrupt commercial activities and traffic flow.
However, police were seen at the protest grounds providing security and ensuring it was not hijacked.
According to state police command spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, ”The Police proactively arrived at the scene to ensure adequate security for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and prevent their procession from being hijacked by hoodlums.
”The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, addressed the protesters before their procession took off in his presence.”
He said, ”The procession moved as far as Maryland. The Police were with them all through. The protesters played their part well and did not obstruct traffic. The Police provided adequate security and ensured the procession was not hijacked. Everything went fine.
”The procession has so far been peaceful without any untoward incident. What can be seen in the picture is CP Fayoade, addressing the joint security team and charging them to be professional, and courteous but firm.”
Similar protests were held in Edo and Osun states where demonstrators marched through the streets with diverse inscriptions such as “End Economic Hardship” and “FG End the Hunger in Nigeria Now,” to drum home their points.