From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Suspected thugs on Thursday attacked protesters who staged a peaceful demonstration to protest against bad governance and hardship in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Led by Omoyele Sowore, the protesters had converged on the popular Cathedral Junction, Akure, before they were dispersed by the suspected thugs who stormed their midst suddenly.
It was alleged that the suspected thugs were aided by men of the Nigerian Police Force who were also at the venue of the protest.
Sowore, who led the protest, said the police were duly informed about the protest as a letter had earlier been sent to the state Commissioner of Police, notifying him and the command of the peaceful protest.
“Nobody has the right to prevent other Nigerians from expressing themselves, and that is why I’m always surprised with the way police act.
“We are not going to accept it, and that’s why we have come here today. These hired thugs came to sabotage our efforts. They came to that place to attack the peaceful protest,” he added.
Reacting, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilfred Afolabi, said: “With the level of training we have received both locally and internationally, no policeman under my watch will be allowed to have anything to do with thugs. So, their allegation that the police connived with thugs to attack them is baseless.”