BREAKING! Tinubu Unleashes Thugs To Attack #EndBadGovt Protesters In Abuja- Lawyer Alleges
On Friday, Kingdom Okere, the convener of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Human Rights, made serious allegations against President Bola Tinubu during an interview with ARISE NEWS. Okere claimed that Tinubu ” unleashed terror” on peaceful protesters during the nationwide protests on August 1st at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Recalling the events, Okere described arriving at the stadium to find his colleague, comrade Deji Adeyanju, already engaged in discussions with the Commissioner of Police (CP), surrounded by media personnel.
According to Okere, there was a court order restricting the protest to the MKO Abiola Stadium, which they respected while also appealing the order. ” We have already filed a notice of appeal. It’ s an order from a court of competent jurisdiction, a high court of the FCT, and it ought to be obeyed until set aside, and that is what we have taken steps to do to seek to set it aside, ” Okere said.
For nearly two hours, the protest at the stadium remained peaceful. Okere emphasized that they complied with the court order, stating, ” We saw the need to respect court order and we tried to confine our activity at the MKO Abiola Stadium. ”
However, the situation took a drastic turn when, according to Okere, the government sent thugs to disrupt the peaceful assembly. ” More than 10 coaster buses conveyed their thugs to MKO Abiola Stadium to come and attack the protesters, ” he alleged.
Interestingly, some of the hired thugs ended up joining the protest after receiving their payment of 2000 naira each. Okere explained, ” Unfortunately for them, some of the thugs they hired, after they had collected 2000 naira (each), they joined the protest because they too are hungry, they too are buying from the same market, they too are suffering from the insecurity, poverty, and misery that this government of APC has unleashed on us. ”
The narrative took another dark turn when Okere recounted how the protest, initially peaceful and contained within the stadium, was violently disrupted by the police.
” The FCT commissioner was too professional, he tried to calm the situation and ensure that we protest within the ambits of the law while he was emphasizing the need to obey the court order, ” Okere noted.
He added that the police and other security agencies initially escorted the protesters until they reached the finance bridge and headed towards the Independent Avenue, planning to divert to Eagle Square to continue their peaceful demonstration.
At this point, Okere said the police resorted to using teargas on the protesters, transforming the scene into a chaotic and hazardous environment. ” The police released teargas on innocent, peaceful, and harmless protesters. Not just teargas, they turned the whole environment into a war zone. In fact, you could hardly breathe; people ran helter- skelter, ” he recounted.
Okere also mentioned that several individuals, particularly those with asthma, struggled to stay safe, with two or three people fainting but later being revived.
Despite the chaos and violence, Okere maintained his stance on the importance of peaceful protest and condemned any form of violence that leads to property destruction.
” Any form of violence that leads to destruction of public properties and private properties of fellow citizens must be condemned. I don’ t see your right to freedom of expression leading to the destruction of public and private properties. You can express your grievances within the ambits of the law, lawfully, and the government hears you, ” he asserted.
Okere’ s message was clear: he encouraged citizens to engage in peaceful protests to express their dissatisfaction with the government’ s actions. He stressed that such protests should be lawful and that the government should listen to constructive criticisms.
” We encourage people to come out and protest peacefully and express their misgivings about things that are going on in this country. And we also expect the president of this country to be a listening president and to take some proactive steps to show that he is ready to address these issues, ” he concluded.
The allegations made by Okere highlight a growing tension between the government and its citizens, reflecting deep- seated frustrations over issues of insecurity, poverty, and perceived governmental failures.
The events of August 1st, as described by Okere, raise serious questions about the government’ s handling of peaceful protests and its commitment to upholding democratic principles and human rights.
As the situation unfolds, the call for peaceful and lawful expression of grievances remains paramount, alongside the hope that the government will take meaningful steps to address the concerns of its citizens.
