Police Disperse RevolutionNow Protests in Lagos With Sheer Force

True to its promise, the Nigerian Police has dispersed the RevolutionNow protests held on Monday in Lagos, shortly after it began.

Earlier on Saturday, shortly after the Department of State Services arrested protest leader Omoyele Sowore, the police released a statement calling the protests a ‘treasonable action’ and vowing to stop it at all cost. The DSS also released a statement saying the government will not stand by and allow a group of people to call for its overthrow as the protest is tagged ‘Revolution’.

Today’s Echo gathers that the protesters mobilized at the National stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Monday morning. An eyewitness told Today’s Echo that as soon as the protesters gathers, a heavily armed convoy of policement descended on the scene and attacked the protesters in full force

“This is where the organisers of the movement began their planned match,” the source said, referring to the stadium area, “but when they were gathering several detachments of the Nigeria police swooped on them and disrupted the gathering. So many people were arrested and whisked away. Cannisters of teargas was released and the crowd started dispersing and thinning out.”

There have also been reports of shots been fired and at least one person has been seen with what looks like a gunshot wound.

Today’s Echo can confirm that there are still several police vehicles stationed at the scene to prevent the protesters from regrouping.

Elsewhere in Lagos and across the country, heavily armed and stern looking soldiers and policemen have been deployed to strategic locations to forestall the gathering of protesters.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have condemned the action of the security forces. See some of the comments on Twitter below:

Wait oh!
Are these members of our security forces ie military & police in Lagos?
Azin, they're on the streets to prevent #RevolutionNow! 😳
An ordinary protest?!
I can't believe this @MBuhari & @APCNigeria people.
People're still getting kidnapped, raped & killed every day oh! 😡 pic.twitter.com/4TqemQFAAc

— Eunice Atuejide (@eunice_atuejide) August 5, 2019

The police just shot at innocent protester at Surulere. I am reporting live from the national stadium. #RevolutionIsNow

— Revolutionary Duru Chibuzor eric (@DuruchibuzorE) August 5, 2019

Enough is enough,is it a crime to be a Nigerian or what….For once people of this country should join hands together and stop this reigns of tyranny permanently…#FreeSoworeNow #RevolutionIsNow

— I_am_DjMuth🎼 (@OfficialMuth1) August 5, 2019

Security forces shooting at protesters in Lagos..

Buhari is NOT GEJ. You wanted an animal you got a beast. Simple#RevolutionIsNow

— Revolutionary Babasola Kuti (@RealSolaKuti) August 5, 2019

We have this when it comes to revolution. We don't have it when there is armed robbery going on, when someone is being kidnapped, when SARS are arresting innocent people. They don't care about us! Repeat after me!
They don't care about us!! #RevolutionIsNow pic.twitter.com/HsYHlCuSkF

— Misinuola❣️#bbnaija (@Iam_Misola) August 5, 2019