…Demand Compensation for Damaged Working Tools

…Call for Reversal of Fuel, Electricity Price Hike, Other Anti-Poor Policies

The International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, Coalition for Revolution (CORE) and the Joint Action Front (JAF), have strongly condemned the unlawful arrest of 18 persons including four journalists, while covering a peaceful protest on the fuel and electricity price hike on Thursday in Yaba, Lagos.  

Those arrested include Mr Ifeoluwa Adediran of Premium Times, Mr Abiodun Ayeoba of Sahara Reporters, Mr Awoniyi Oluwatosin of Objective Media and Mr Daniel Tanimu of Galaxy Television. Also arrested were 14 members of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), the organisation that spearheaded the protest.

Spokesperson of the SPN, Mr Hassan Soweto, who was equally arrested, confirmed that, “The cameras and phones of the journalists were seized while they were being taken to the Lagos State Police Command.”

IPC in a statement signed by its Program Officer/Safety Desk Officer, Mrs Melody Akinjiyan Lawal, says, it “disapproves the harassment and brutalization of the journalists in the course of legitimate duty and particularly decries the seizure and damage to their working tools.”

While demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists, the organisation calls on the Police to also return their seized gadgets and pay compensation for the damaged ones.

IPC reiterates that “the right to peacefully assemble and ventilate grievances over government policies is covered by the laws of the federation and should not be tampered with arbitrarily.”

Also demanding for the immediate and unconditional release of the 18 arrested persons, the Coalition for Revolution (CORE) says, “This is yet another expression of the dictatorial nature of the Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led regime. But what it fails to realise is that we have a rich history of vicious dictators like him, who end in ignominy despite all the might they wield at a time to repress and suppress.”

In a statement by its two Conveners, Mr Baba Aye and Mr Gbenga Komolafe, CORE contends that, “The point being made by the SPN activists and the mass of poor working-class people in Nigeria is simple. We cannot and will not continue to bear the burden of increasing hardship that the regime is trying to make normal.”

The organisation also demanded “for an immediate reversal of the fuel pump price hike, increase in electricity tariff and other anti-poor policies,” while stressing “the need for continued and concerted resistance to the regime and for revolutionary system change.”

In a statement signed by Mr Abiodun Aremu, the Secretary, Joint Action Front (JAF), titled, “Release SPN National Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, Daga Tolar, Hassan Soweto,, Journalists & Others Arrested Unconditionally!”, the organisation says, “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 SPN for protesting this morning against fuel price hike, electricity tariff and the deregistration of SPN.”

“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,” the organisation added..

Operatives of the Nigeria Police arrested members of the SPN protesting the fuel price and electricity tariff hike in Lagos.

The protesters were seen with placards expressing their displeasure over the recent increase in petroleum price and electricity tariff by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. Some 18 persons were later arrested, including four journalists whose gadgets were also seized.

National Youth Leader of SPN, Mr Soweto decried the attack on the protesters.

He posted on social media: “We have just been arrested alongside several members of the Socialist Party of Nigeria and journalists for protesting this morning against fuel price hike, electricity tariff, and deregistration of SPN.

“I am typing this message at the back of a police van taking us to Area C, Police Command, Lagos.”

SPN National Organising Secretary, Mr Dimeji Macaulay also condemned the assault on the attackers in a statement.

He said: “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 police for this ridiculous and unprofessional action taken against our comrades, and we ask that proper disciplinary measures be taken on those security officers involved.

“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,” he restated.

He identified some of those arrested as Mr Dagga Tolar, Mr Ayo Ademiluyi, Mr Chinedu Bosah, Mr Lexan Ali, Mr Fidel Davynovich, Mr Oluwole Engels, Mr Soweto, and eight others.

The administration of President Buhari which claims it has spent about N1.7 trillion on subsidising electricity tariff, says it can no longer afford to subsidise fuel and electricity prices, leading to hikes which has increased the suffering of the people, already reeling from the negative effect of lockdown arising from Covid-19.