October 1 protest: It’s unconstitutional to confine protesters, Lagos lawyer tells govt

• IGP orders water-tight security, orders clampdown of miscreants
• NHRC, HURIWA advocate peaceful exercise
• May drag killer security operatives to ICC

Human rights lawyer, Taiwo Adedeji, has faulted the Lagos State Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), for reportedly securing a court judgment confining protesters to Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, describing the move as unconstitutional.

FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) command of the police also warned members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly called ‘Shiites’. Police spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed Egbetokun’s warnings, noted that it was part of the IGP’s comprehensive plan to ensure a hitch-free celebration.  He noted that the IGP ordered the deployment of adequate human and tactical resources to enable a maximum level of security for the celebration. 
 
“The police, in synergy with other security agencies, will fortify various designated event venues and the major highways across the country, to forestall any threat to life and property during the celebration.”
 
“Additionally, the IGP has directed all personnel deployed for various operations during the celebrations to be courteous and firm in their engagements with members of the public,” he stated.
 
Relatedly, the command revealed that it had not received an application letter from the #FearlessinOctober protest organisers.  Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Benneth Igweh, noted that protesting within the ambit of the law is allowed.
 
He, however, warned members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria popularly called ‘Shiites’ to desist from any protest, as they remained proscribed.
NHRC’s statement followed the maltreatment of #EndBadGovernance protests in August, which raised significant concerns.
  
The Executive Secretary, Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), noted Section 40 of the Constitution protected the right to peaceful assembly, which was reinforced by international agreements.  He underscored the importance of protests and citizen engagement in governance.
 
In its advisory, the NHRC emphasised key principles, including non-discrimination, protection from violence and the necessity of lawful, proportional restrictions.
 
Ojukwu called on the government to ensure safety during protests, facilitate peaceful assembly, and hold law enforcement operatives accountable for any abuse.

HURIWA said the call followed planned peaceful protests for today, October 1, 2024, to demonstrate against the heightened cost of living and bad governance. The National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said its decision to appeal to the United Nations was due to mounting evidence that the Federal Government under Tinubu was already deploying armed security operatives to shoot at peaceful marchers on October 1.
 
He stressed that the situation was akin to what transpired in August’s #EndBadGovernance protests across the country when armed goons carried out targeted killings of over two dozen protesters.
  
HURIWA stated that those who killed peaceful protesters would be pencilled in and dragged to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, over crimes against humanity.
 
“We are warning the military and police service chiefs, including the head of the nation’s secret police, to note that they may have to be dragged to the ICC in The Hague to account for the lawless killings of peaceful protesters in Nigeria, no matter how long it takes to achieve this objective by the organised civil rights community in Nigeria,” it said.