October 1 protest: ‘We are fully prepared’ – Sowore says as police monitor flashpoints

This protest will be the second in two months, as Nigerians express their frustration with the hardships caused by the increase in petrol prices, electricity tariffs, and the devaluation of the naira by President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The #FearlessOctober1 demonstration is a follow-up to the #Endbadgovernance protest that took place from August 1 to 10.

Its goal is to highlight the government’s failure to address various demands, including hunger, rising costs, insecurity, wastefulness, electoral reforms, and human capital development.

The protest in Abuja will be held at the Eagle Square, the same location as the Independence Day parade, while the Lagos protest will take place at the Ikeja Under Bridge.

On Sunday, human rights advocate and leader of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, said they were “fully prepared” for the protest, adding that they would hit the streets at 7am on the scheduled date.

“We are fully prepared. Our organizers are on the ground and would not be going into hiding. These are revolutionary times, Nigerians will hit the streets en mass starting from 7am on October 1,” he said.

In Lagos, the protest organisers plan to commence their march at the Ikeja Under Bridge at 7:30am.

Meanwhile, in the north, The Punch reports that Niger State Police Command has deployed personnel and security assets to avert any breakdown of law and order during the Independence Day celebration in the state.

In Suleja, a major town in Niger, six people were feared killed when protesters reportedly attempted to invade a police station during the #Endbadgovernance protest.

On Sunday in Minna, the state capital, gun-wielding security operatives were stationed in some of the major places, including popular markets and road junctions. Police patrol vehicles had also started moving around the city to ensure that peace was maintained in the state.