Security agencies on Saturday took over strategic public spaces to frustrate protests organised across the country by activists demonstrating against what they described as bad government and unbridled insecurity.
The police action has in some places blunted the plan by various groups drawing attention to the sordid “State of the Nation,” as a way of commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day.
In Lagos State, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad surrounded the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos, venue of the June 12 Democracy Day protest.
About three Hilux Vehicles and two armoured tanks were seen at the venue on Saturday.
Also, in a show of force, one armoured tank and five Hilux Vehicles patrolled the area.
However, as protesters arrived at the venue in their large numbers, the police fired tear gas canisters at the protesters.
Earlier, the Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, claimed the command was unaware of any planned protests by any group on June 12 Democracy Day.
He assured residents of safety during the June 12 celebrations.
In Abuja, the nation’s seat of power, men of the Nigeria Police Force thwarted a June 12 protest in the Gudu area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The protesters, mostly youths, expressing their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation at about 8:30am, were intercepted by the police, who stormed the area on Saturday morning and started firing teargas canisters.
The protesters, chanting: “Buhari must go,” “Say no to injustice,” amongst other solidarity phrases, scampered for safety when the security operatives started shooting.
As its security measure, security agents took over the popular Unity Fountain and put it under lock and keys.
However, hundreds of pro-Buhari supporters lined up close to the Unity Fountain, displaying placards in support of the government
An internal tussle however broke out among them as the groups were seen in a heated exchange over the sharing of monetary resources meant for organising the counter protests.
In Osun State, youths, under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Societies (CSOs), massed up at the popular Oke-Fai Roundabout, watched by eagle-eyed and heavily armed policemen in Osogbo, the state capital.
The youths started converging around 7:30am beside the patrol vehicle of Amotekun and NSCDC with banners and placards demanding a better Nigeria and a country that works for all.
One of the leaders of the Youths, Comrade Waheed Saka, said, “We cannot ruin the economic activities of our state all in the name that some secessionist agitators want to protest. We are here today to demand a better country that works for all, we want a secure environment.”
There was heavy security presence in Osogbo as patrol vehicles of security agencies were stationed at major junctions.
Security presence was noticed at the State Secretariat, Ola-Iya, Aregbe, Oke-Fia and Old Garage.
Military and police were on patrol around the state capital.
Shops and businesses were closed as there are fewer activities of commercial buses and motorcycles in the state capital over speculated violence likely to accompany the June 12 rally especially the threat of Yoruba nation agitators.
