The #FearlessOctober1 protest is set to take place in Nigeria on October 1, coinciding with the nation’s 64th independence celebration.
Organizers, including members of the Take It Back Movement, emphasize their right to protest against the hardships stemming from fuel subsidy removal and currency devaluation. Despite the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directing security forces to monitor the protests and discourage participation, protest leaders assert their determination to proceed. They argue that the police’s role should be to protect their right to assemble peacefully, not to intimidate or suppress dissent.
Key locations for the protests include Eagle Square in Abuja and the Ikeja Under Bridge in Lagos, with plans for demonstrations nationwide. The organizers demand the reversal of fuel subsidy removal, constitutional amendments, and the release of detained protesters, maintaining that government repression will not deter public outcry.
Leaders warn against potential government attempts to incite violence or discredit the protests, stressing that citizens must exercise their constitutional rights.
The overarching sentiment reflects a growing frustration with current governance, as many Nigerians feel compelled to voice their grievances amid increasing hardships.