One of the leaders of the upcoming protest, Omoyele Sowore, who was a presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has reaffirmed that the demonstration will take place across all 36 states of Nigeria.
Sowore shared updates about the protest on his X account on Monday, September 30, 2024, stating, “NO GOING BACK! #FearlessInOctober.”
He confirmed that the nationwide protest would commence at Eagle Square, Abuja, and emphasized that it would be peaceful. “The protests will be held in all parts of Nigeria because the scale of the devastation, hunger, insecurity, and hardship this government has inflicted on Nigerians is national. I want to stress again that these will be peaceful protests, as they always have been,” he stated.
Sowore recalled that previous protests remained peaceful, yet the government responded with violence. “We will not be deterred. Our only weapon is truth, and no amount of force or violence will prevent us from speaking truth to power,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to participate in the protest, noting that the widespread hunger in the country should motivate them to take to the streets.
Highlighting Nigeria’s pressing issues, including naira devaluation, food crises, flooding, insecurity, and rising petrol prices, Sowore stated that it is no surprise that Nigerians are rising to protest against the government’s failure to address these concerns. “We are prepared to protest. We are determined to do so peacefully. I can assure you that thousands of voices will be raised in protest on October 1. The pangs of hunger and groans of pain from the Nigerian people will not be silenced by the government,” he remarked during an interview shared on his platform.
POLICE WARN PROTESTERS
In response to the impending protests, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against any potential breakdown of law and order. Security measures have been heightened in major cities, including Lagos, Minna, and Kano, ahead of the demonstrations.
Olanrewaju Ishola, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, stated that the Force will not tolerate any troublemakers during the protest.