Whenever there is notice of civil unrest or civil demonstration or protest. Newspapers and magazines are always on alert. So, News Editors usually depends on both the crime reporter and the political reporter for the news. Reason being that every aspect of the coverage must be on his table to ensure a detailed news coverage. So, each time the Nigeria labour congress ( NLC) announces their intension to embark on civil demonstration, it is like the dropping of a cup of honey , it automatically would attract the attention of news editors and their reporters on one part, while on the other part parents and teachers wade off their children and pupils from the scene of the demonstration. Such operational activity instantly sets the confrontational stage with members of the police and demonstrators. However, while other citizens avoid the venue of the demonstration , the journalist would evidently witness when hell is let loose , like what recently happened simultaneously in the federal capital territory , Abuja , Lagos and Port Harcourt where demonstrators were tear gassed by the police who believed the demonstrators were resolved to disrupt the national police day celebration.
The journalists by the nature of their job are mandated to be at such venue because he or she is paid to be present to cover every details even when hell is let loose. the tear gas canister is fired from the police into the crowd of the demonstrators. The” Take-It-Back Movement ” disrupted the Police Day event in Abuja, with protesters decrying repression, cyber law abuse, and worsening hardship.
The early morning protest by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations almost ruined the grand finale of the National Police Day Celebration, which was held at Eagle Square in Abuja.
Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, rather than participating in the maiden National Police Day Celebration in Abuja, had a herculean task controlling protesters who took over a street in Maitama to protest what they described as the police’s systematic suppression of dissenting voices against the government of the day, hiding under the Cybercrime Act.
Several other police personnel were also deployed to enforce traffic diversion away from Eagle Square, the venue of the National Police Day Celebration. The diversion led to a heavy traffic gridlock on most roads leading to the city centre of Abuja.
Also, those deployed to control the protesters used tear gas to disperse the peaceful protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja.
The protesters, who had gathered peacefully to express their grievances, were thrown into disarray as the tear gas canisters sent many, scurrying for safety.
The protest, which was part of a nationwide protest was organized and spearheaded by the Take-It-Back Movement. other civil society organisations, had earlier been drawing attention to several national issues.
Among their concerns raised by the organisers were the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act, the worsening economic hardship in the country, and the emergency rule in Rivers State.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “stop the repression” and “let us breathe”. The publisher of Sahara Reporters and former Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, was sighted amongst the protesters. The question on the lips of many security observers is that , why did the civil society prefer the police celebration date to embark on their demonstration, when MAY DAY was open for them? . Truely, this antagonistic mindset does not in anyway help to resolve pending issues neither had it brought solution to all the nagging national problems since the military regime and into the democratic dispensation. Looking back at Aba Women’s Riots of december 6 1929.
Abeokuta Women Revolt of November 27 1947. Ali Must Go of 17 April 1978. Anti SAP riots of 24 May – June 1989. June 12 protest of June 12 1993. Occupy Nigeria of 14 January 2012. 2020 End SARS. End Bad Governance in Nigeria of August 1-10 2024.
In as much as the civil society had grouse with the government of the day, one had expected the group to have learnt enough lesson on how to articulate their grievances in a democratic settings apart from open demonstration. On the other part the police as a discipline organization should had by now gestition this “Scatter and kill” them mentality, after all the civil society agitation demand covers, the problems of the police officers. That they are in uniform should not make them to forget that their family members were part of the demonstrators/ protesters and they were inadvertently speaking for them also. So why use a sledgehammer to kill an innocent ant. Also, the civil society should endeavor to weigh situations in the country before embarking on such sensitive action. That the police is licensed to fire tear gas there are rules that guide the use of teargas in public space. The question is did the civil society Truely disrupt the national day celebration of the police?. If No, why teargas them. Demonstrations had hardly brought solution or answer to any civil agitation, if positive then it is minimal. However, both parties especially the police should always work consciously with restraint when dealing with demonstrations. The country has grown past all these ugly situations created by the police when ever there is a demonstration, by now the police should know the psychology of demonstrators especially when it is organized by either civil society or student unions,demonstrators grandstand. They bark like Alsatian dogs in a cage, they can only intimidate, harass but cannot bite, if they are not well understood that is when innocent blood is shed. Also when they allow street miscrant, thugs and criminals to infiltrate their circle that is when hatred and evil mindset escalate. This doesn’t give the country any good image.
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Security file
Wishes to Congratulate Former Comptroller of Customs in charge of Tin-Can island Apapa Lagos Mr Dera Nnadi who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller- General in charge of policy and strategy at the Customs headquarters, Abuja. He is an avid reader of this column.
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Security hint
Don’t encourage anybody to run across a busy express way instead of climbing the pedestrian bridge.
2. Don’t stand garauntor for anyone not well known to you or a casual friend.
3. Avoid shopping online on unverifiable internet sites
4. Avoid paying rent to agents without notifying the landlord.