- JAF, SPN Condemn Arrest, Call for Immediate, Unconditional Release
THE Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, on Thursday morning arrested several protesters who were demonstrating against the recent increases in the price of petrol and electricity tariff by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The demonstration, organised by the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), also demanded INEC’s implementation of the recent Court of Appeal judgment nullifying its deregistration of some political parties in the country.
Arrested along with the protesters are four journalists who were covering the protest. A whatsapp message from Comrade Chinedu Bosah, SPN’s National Secretary, to National Record said the protest was peaceful but was “repressed by the police this morning on the instruction of the Buhari regime.” He said “the protest is against the hikes in petrol price and electricity tariff hike as well as the refusal of INEC to obey court of appeal judgment.”
He said a total number of 18 people, including 4 journalists were arrested. The Arrested protesters include Christopher Harry, Abisoye Kosoko, Tunde Yusuf, Akande Abiola, Ayo Ademiluyi, Ifeanyi Onwunalu, Davy Fidel, Dagga Tolar, Adetunji Gbenga, Usman Khadijat, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Moshood Oshunfurewa, Taiwo Alao and Chinedu Bosah.
The arrested journalists are Ifeoluwa Adediran of Premium Times, Abiodun Ayeoba of Saharara Reporters, Awoniyi Oluwatosin of Objectv Media and Daniel Tanimu of Galaxy TV.
JAF, SPN Condemns Arrest, Calls for Immediate Release
In a swift response, the Joint Action Front (JAF), while condemning the clampdown on the protesters also demanded for their “immediate and unconditional release of the arrested protesters and journalists.
The short statement by Comrade Abiodun Aremu, JAF’s Secretary, entitled: “Release SPN National Secretary Chinedu Bosah, Daga Tolar, Hassan Soweto, Journalists & Others Arrested Unconditionally!” and made available to National Record states in part: “The attention of the Joint Action Front (JAF) has just been drawn to the illegal arrest of several comrades of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) by police and security operatives of the Area C Command. Journalists who were covering the event were also arrested alongside the leaders and members of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) for protesting this morning against fuel price hike, electricity tariff and the deregistration of SPN…
Nigerians cannot have it, as the regime is suggesting, that they are a conquered people in their own country, who cannot express their dissatisfaction, no matter how peaceful, against the daily hardship and oppression they suffer in the hands of the capitalist hordes Buhari is representing.
“JAF hereby demands the immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested comrades and the journalists who did no wrong exercising their legitimate and constitutional rights of expression and protest.”
Similarly, the SPN, in a press statement by its National Organising Secretary, Dimeji Macaulay, entitled: “Free Detained SPN Leaders, Members and Journalists Now,” condemned the arrest of its leadership describing it as “shocking news.”
Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) condemns arrest of its leadership; we received the shocking news that our leaders were arrested today at Ikeja, Lagos State during peaceful Protest.
The statement stated that the camera of Galaxy TV’s Daniel Tanimu was seized while mobile phones of some journalists were also seized.
Part of the statement reads: “We condemn this attack as part of the continuous descent of the country into a brutish state of military repression. It is completely unacceptable, and we enjoin all Nigerians interested in preserving this country’s hard-earned democracy to condemn this emboldened descent into a civilian-military dictatorship.
“We demand a public apology from the Nigeria police for this ridiculous and unprofessional action taking against our Comrades, and we ask that proper disciplinary measures be taken on those security officers involved. We demand that Nigeria should be free of repression and undemocratic methods.
“It’s important for you to note that demonstrations and protests are a global phenomenon and are a part of the development of any society.
“It is important to note that while the police have a duty to maintain peace and order, they also ought to carry out that duty in a way that does not infringe on the rights of peaceful protesters or instils fear into the protesters who are merely seeking a means of expression their views.
“The Public Order Act provides that the convener of a protest should obtain a licence from the police 48 hours before the actual date of the protest. The license would only be granted if the protest is not likely to cause a breach of peace.
“It is every Nigerian’s fundamental and constitutional right to protest and organise rallies. Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for and guarantees this right when it states that “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely, and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union, or any other association for the protection of his interests”.
“It is an inalienable right that cannot be taken away by anyone. When such rights are infringed on, every citizen of Nigeria has the right to head to the courts to ensure the enforcement of such rights.”
The SPN therefore demanded for the “immediate and unconditional release of our party leaders and journalists just as it condemned what it described as an emerging “tradition of using the DSS and Police to repress every lawful opposition to the oppressive regime of Muhammadu Buhari.”
According to SPN, “Nigerians cannot have it, as the regime is suggesting, that they are a conquered people in their own country, who cannot express their dissatisfaction, no matter how peaceful, against the daily hardship and oppression they suffer in the hands of the capitalist hordes Buhari is representing.”
