BREAKING: ARMY, POLICE ARREST #REVOLUTIONNOW PROTESTERS IN ABUJA
Over forty #RevolutionNow protesters have been arrested by the police and Nigerian Army in the Abuja metropolis on Wednesday, August 5.
The protesters were seen carrying placards and banners with the inscriptions, ‘Nigerians are sick and tired of poverty, corruption, injustice and untimely death’; ‘Say no to injustice’, ‘Yes to living wage for unemployed youths’.
Report says the protesters started the movement as early as 8 am to demand good governance.
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The protesters, many of whom wore orange berets, converged on the Unity Fountain, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, and were about to begin their procession when policemen stormed the venue and dispersed them.
A human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, said he witnessed security agents beating up protesters for no just cause.
Akinyode said, “They arrested about 29 of our people. Security officials made them lie down and beat them. Even as a lawyer I was harassed. They pushed me around. This is very undemocratic.”
According to Punch, the protests are ongoing in other States in the country, including Lagos.
However, the leader of the group, Omoyele Sowore, was not present at the protest.
Sowore, a former Presidential candidate, on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), was detained last year for about three months while court orders for his release were ignored.
He was eventually released following pressure from the international community and human rights organisations.
A member of the movement and lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, asked the Government to scrap the 1999 constitution to allow Nigerian decide a new constitution through vote, Sahara Reporters reports.
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He said, "The 1999 constitution is a fraudulent document, scrap it and let the people make their own constitution.
"We call for the abolition of tuition fees in universities and secondary schools.
"President Buhari must stop the killings in the country by sacking all the incompetent service chiefs.
"Government must stop all estimated billing by the power companies, provide pre-paid meters for free, and communities must have the right to audit the electricity bills they get, and review the licenses of all discos.
"Free all political prisoners now, including El Zakzaky and his wife and create employment for the youth.”
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