Thugs move around Lagos markets without police restrictions warning against participation in hunger protest
Thugs in Lagos have threatened to unleash violence on Nigerians who plan to protest on August 1 against bad governance and hunger.
The thugs, with a public address system, threatened to unleash violence against protesters who dared to come to make their voices heard on hunger in the country.
Although the faces of the thugs could not be seen in the viral video of the threat, they were however heard chastising market women and men in a Lagos market, urging them to desist from the planned protest, as it might lead to more destruction than what was witnessed during the #EndSARS protest.
“Anyone confident should come out on Thursday to protest. Are you the only one hungry? If you dare come out for the protest, you will be mercilessly dealt with.
“If they burn your shops, who will be responsible for it? On Thursday, if you truly believe in your cause, come out and protest. You are not the only ones who are hungry; we don’t want things to be destroyed in Lagos. We will not allow it,” the men in the video warned.
Despite the threat from the thugs, at least nine civil society organisations including Joint Action Front, PRP Vanguard, Yoruba Revolutionary Movement and six others have said the planned protest would be held, with Ikeja Under Bridge as the take-off point for the Lagos leg.
The organisers who addressed a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos said despite the threat and intimidation, the End Bad Governance Protest would commence from 7 am at the Ikeja Under Bridge as the take-off point.
Hassan Taiwo Soweto who read the text of the press statement on behalf of the coalition, including civil societies, socialist and radical groups, said in the last three weeks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his aides and security agencies and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have embarked on the futile attempt to disparage and demonise the protest.
