Organisers of the nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance have asked President Bola Tinubu to sack the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee, the IGP “supervised the killing of peaceful protesters” across the country during the demonstrations.
This demand was made during a candlelight symposium held in honour of the victims at the Rights House in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Friday.
Speaking at the event, National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign, Hassan Taiwo, stressed the urgency of sacking the IGP, stating that more than 40 people have lost their lives nationwide.
“We are demanding the sacking of the Inspector General of Police,” he declared.
However, police officers stopped protesters from carrying out the candlelight procession to the Alausa area in Lagos State, instead offering an alternative route.
Taiwo added that the group was determined to mourn those killed but will not proceed to Alausa due to orders from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
He urged the group members to take control of the procession, emphasising that their peaceful approach should not be seen as cowardice.
“We’ve just been informed by the police that the Commissioner of Police has directed us not to go to Alausa. Comrades, I propose, if you don’t mind, that we take control of this procession ourselves, rather than giving them the chance to dictate our actions. They should not mistake our gentility for cowardice,” Taiwo said.
Politics Nigeria reports that today marks Day 9 of the ongoing protest against pervasive hardship in the country.
The protesters are demanding a reversal of fuel subsidy as well as immediate action by the federal government to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.