‘Arrest bandits with AK-47 instead of #OccupyLekki protesters,’ APC chieftain tells police

A former All Progressives Party (APC) presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, on Saturday challenged the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies in the country to arrest bandits terrorizing Nigerians with AK-47 rifles instead of peaceful #OccupyLekki protesters.

Police had on Saturday arrested several youths protesting the proposed reopening of the Lekki toll plaza, venue of the October 20, 2020 shooting of #ENDSARS protesters by soldiers in Lagos.

Garba, who reacted to the development on his Facebook page, argued that it was “better to have peaceful protesters than have gun-wielding bandits who terrorize the citizens across the country.”

He insisted that the protesting youths have the right to seek justice for all victims of the October 20, 2020 incident.

The politician wrote: “In as much as the #ENDSARS protesters are not blocking the way for other citizens to move along the #Lekkitollgate, the law permits them the right to peaceful protest. After all, that is a tenet of democracy which we practice.

“All arrested protesters should be released immediately.

READ ALSO: CHSR demands immediate release of #OccupyLekki protesters arrested by police

“When do we ever learn in Nigeria? Is it not better for people to express themselves in a protest than hiding behind any extreme motive to seek justice? I would rather have a peaceful protester than a bandit with AK-47.

“If #ENDSARS protesters promise to be peaceful, let them be. If for any reason, an iota of violence is detected from them, the authorities should quickly mobilise and disperse them.

“But as long as protesters claimed to be peaceful, we should give them their right to protest and protect them against possible hijack of the protests by hoodlums.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now