LIVE UPDATES: Nigerians Hold Nationwide Protests To Mark June 12, Reject Tyranny

LIVE UPDATES: Nigerians hold nationwide protests to mark June 12, reject tyranny

Nigerians across the country are holding demonstrations against abject insecurity, poverty and rising attacks on their fundamental rights.

Nigerians Hold Nationwide Protests To Mark June 12

The protesters will march in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt and other pockets of towns and cities to mark 28 years’ anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Moshood Abiola.

The anniversary has also been set aside as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

The demonstration this year comes as Nigerians are witnessing rising assaults on their rights by elements of the Buhari regime. The administration escalated the situation last week when it announced a ban on Twitter in the country.

The action faced nationwide condemnation, and countries across the world, including the U.S., UK and Europe condemned it as undemocratic.

President Muhammadu Buhari rejected claims of rights violation but said the ban on Twitter was necessary to curb hate speech and separatist agitations. Both the regime and Twitter also confirmed being in talks to resolve the standoff and restore the social network giant to millions of Nigerians.

Some Peoples Gazette’s reporters in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt will bring live updates from protest grounds throughout the day; while other colleagues will monitor and aggregate social media reactions for the newsroom.

Police fired tear gas on protesters in Ojota who were agitating for good governance in the country.

On Saturday dozens of Nigerian youths and civil societies gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Lagos, for the June 12 Democracy Day protest.

According to FIJ, one of its reporters Adeola Oladipupo was arrested by the police while covering the June 12 protest in Ojota.

The journalist was arrested and hurled into the police van alongside other protesters who were randomly picked up by the police at the protest ground.

18 mins ago

Lagos

The police have stormed Toyin Street, Ikeja where protesters are gathered. They are urging protesters to be peaceful and not allow hoodlums infiltrate their ranks.

Officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps are also on group to address the demonstrators.

27 mins ago

Ibadan, Oyo State

A journalist with BBC Africa has attacked by officers of the Oyo Police Command while covering demonstrations in Mokola, Ibadan.

The reporter, who was identified as Micheal, works with the BBC Pidgin media department, Premium Times reported.

He was slapped by a police officer identified as S.A Oke while trying to record the harassment of protesters by police.

His equipment and phones were also confiscated.

The security operatives threatened to kill protesters who refused to obey their orders.

In a related development, Samuel Olubiyo, another journalist with an online newspaper in Abuja was arrested by the police while covering the June 12 protest.

34 mins ago

Jos

#June12Protest: As early as 8:30 a.m., protesters have converged around the Old Airport Junction in Jos, demanding an urgent end to economic pains, insecurity and rights violations.

June 12 protest, Jos

57 mins ago

We cannot protest in CALABAR

We cannot protest in CALABAR

We cannot protest in CALABAR

The government has deployed all it’s known forces to prevent peaceful protests!#June12thProtest

— She 🌍 (@covenant_nsa) June 12, 2021

58 mins ago

Calabar

Military police full everywhere for Calabar 😩😤 …. Calabar people Where una dey na

— MILKY_99💫✨ (@milky9900) June 12, 2021

60 mins ago

Calabar

There’s Army and Police with guns at major junctions in Calabar. Ah! Democracy Day but you’re heavily policing people and trying to put fear in people. Which fucking Democracy?

— Nwa Mmuo (@MsNwangwa) June 12, 2021

1 hour ago

Abuja

There are reports that pro-Buhari demonstrators are armed around Unity Fountain, Abuja. Activists are warning citizen protesters to avoid confrontation with thugs.

2 hours ago

Lagos

A police officer seen shooting at protesters at Ojota, Lagos

(Credit: TheCable)

2 hours ago

Calabar: Policemen secure major areas to prevent June 12 protest

In Calabar, police barricaded possible protest grounds in the state capital, following the proposed planned nationwide rally to commemorate June 12.

The areas with heavy security presence include Millennium Park, Freedom Park at Mary Slessor, Atekong junction, Mobil filling station, Rabana roundabout, among others.

Eyewitness accounts and social media reports

There’s Army and Police with guns at major junctions in Calabar. Ah! Democracy Day but you’re heavily policing people and trying to put fear in people. Which fucking Democracy?

— Nwa Mmuo (@MsNwangwa) June 12, 2021

Military police full everywhere for Calabar 😩😤 …. Calabar people Where una dey na

— MILKY_99💫✨ (@milky9900) June 12, 2021

We can come out with placards and sit on our streets

— She 🌍 (@covenant_nsa) June 12, 2021

stated there were security operatives at major areas within city.

Governor Ben Ayade, through his special adviser Christian Ita, had issued a statement announcing a ban on public rallies and protests in the state.

Mr Ayade, who recently defected to APC from PDP warned that protesters would be prosecuted.

“Due to the prevailing security situation in the country, the government will not permit any procession or gathering under any guise on June 12 which is designated as Democracy Day,” Mr Ayade said in the statement.

He added, “Parents are hereby advised to keep a firm grip on their kids and wards to prevent them from falling prey to agents of destabilisation as the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on violators of the ban on procession.”