The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee, in response to the recent killings of protesters across the nation, called for the immediate dismissal of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The committee’s demand came during a solemn candlelight symposium held on Friday at the Rights House in Ikeja, Lagos State, to honor those who have lost their lives in the ongoing protests.
The organizers had earlier declared three days of mourning for the victims, following violent clashes between protesters and security forces. The mourning period is being observed at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, where a hunger strike that began nine days ago continues as part of the protest activities.
Amnesty International recently reported that at least 21 protesters were killed by Nigerian security forces during the protests, which erupted due to widespread economic hardships and governance issues. However, the committee insists that the death toll is even higher, with more than 40 lives lost nationwide.
At the symposium, Hassan Taiwo, the National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign and a key member of the organizing committee, reiterated the urgent need to remove the IGP from office.
“We are demanding the sacking of the Inspector General of Police,” Taiwo declared, citing the growing number of casualties as a result of police actions.
Following the symposium, a candlelight procession organized by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) was planned to move towards Alausa. However, the police intervened, preventing the protesters from proceeding to the area. Instead, they suggested an alternative route, a move that was met with resistance from the organizers.
Taiwo urged the group to maintain control of their actions and not be swayed by the police’s directives.
“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 emphasized.
