Thugs Disrupt June 12 Protest in Akure

Fidelis David in Akure

Suspected thugs, yesterday, disrupted the June 12 protest in Akure the Ondo State capital against the current hardship and insecurity across the country.

The protesters had early as possible converged at strategic points including Cathedral junction, First Bank Area, ‘A’ Division, before some thugs, disrupted the peaceful demonstration.

According to OmoyeleSowore, an activist and politician, who led the protest, the peaceful demonstration aimed to raise public awareness of citizens’ rights to democratic participation and to speak out against bad governance.

Sowore expressed his disappointment and frustration, saying: “What is so sad is that a letter had been written by a lawyer to the Commissioner of Police, not to plead with police that we want to protest, but just to remind them of their duties as policemen to protect people in the country, and they failed and shocked in that responsibility that’s why we relocated the protests here.

“We have just met with him, and he did promise that something will be done. Do I believe? No, but at least we made our point known. But we’ve given him a matching order that if something is not done, we’ll come back here and take over the place.

“Nobody has the right to prevent another Nigerian from expressing themselves, and that is why, you see, I’m always in the crosshairs of the police, whether the person oppressed is a policeman, or whosoever.

“We are not going to accept it. We are not and that’s why we have come here today. These hired thugs came to sabotage and hijack. They came to that place to attack the peaceful protest.”

Tope Temokun, a human rights activist, also condemned the action of the suspected sponsored thugs, berating their attempts to disrupt the peaceful demonstration.