The organisers of the #FearlessOctober1 protest have stated that police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military will not deter them from carrying out their planned demonstration on Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, October 1. The protest aims to highlight the economic hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira.
The National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Director of Mobilisation, Damilare Adenola, confirmed that mobilisation efforts are well underway, with protesters gathering from across the country. They also revealed that they have formally requested security from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as they exercise their constitutional right to protest.
“We have written to the IGP informing him of our protest locations and reminding him that it is the duty of the police to protect peaceful demonstrators, not repress them,” Sanyaolu said.
The protest is expected to take place in several cities, with the main demonstrations planned at Eagle Square in Abuja and Ikeja Under Bridge in Lagos. The organisers emphasized that only the immediate reversal of fuel subsidy removal would halt their plans.
In response, IGP Egbetokun has directed the police to deploy officers across strategic locations starting from Monday. Officers are expected to dress in camouflage, and Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police have been instructed to discourage participation from civil society groups.
### “We Are Not Afraid” – Sowore, Adeyanju
Protest leader Omoyele Sowore, however, insisted that the youth are not intimidated by the police and that the protest would go ahead as planned. He dismissed concerns about possible violence during the demonstration, stating that the group has always been peaceful.
Lawyer Deji Adeyanju criticized the police for attempting to summon protesters, arguing that it is the responsibility of security agencies to protect demonstrators rather than harass them. He also mentioned that previous arrests of #EndBadGovernance protesters were meant to discourage future demonstrations but affirmed that these tactics would not weaken the resolve of the #FearlessOctober1 protesters.
### Eight Civil Society Groups to Join Lagos Protest
Damilare Adenola noted that the #FearlessOctober1 protest is a continuation of the #EndBadGovernance movement from August, with protesters demanding the reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, constitutional amendments, and the release of detained demonstrators. He warned the security agencies against using force to disrupt the protest.
Peluola Adewale, Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement, revealed that eight civil society groups are set to join the Lagos protest, cautioning the government against infiltrating the movement with hired thugs to discredit the cause. “Protest is a fundamental right, and we will not surrender it to the police or anyone,” Adewale asserted.
In Katsina, the state police command has assured protesters of their safety, with the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, confirming that measures have been taken to prevent violence and maintain order during the protests.
