The police have warned Nigerians to stay away from the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest planned for August 5 by Omoyele Sowore and other Nigerian rights activists, saying the demonstration would amount to a felony and terrorism.

Police chief Muhammad Adamu said in a statement Saturday afternoon that the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest could incite anarchy in Nigeria, warning that anyone who may want to join it to have a rethink.

The social media have been awash with preparation for the protest on August 5. Mr Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been the main figure of the planned demonstration.

Mr Sowore and organisers said the demonstration would be peaceful, and they released a list of demands that they saw as necessary to take Nigeria out of its current malaise.

Nigeria is currently ranked to have the highest number of extremely poor people in the world, with the World Bank expressing fears that the country’s huge population could linger in multi-dimensional poverty.

Insecurity has also afflicted the country in recent months, with Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, armed bandits and deadly kidnappers having a field day.

The Buhari administration and security forces said they had been working heavily to address the multi-faceted crises, calling on citizens to be patient for the efforts to yield the desired result.

Mr Sowore and other members of the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest said Nigerians should ignore further excuses and take to the street in peaceful demand a better society for themselves and future generation.

At no time did the ‘RevolutionNow’ activists call for violence, and they drew inspiration from recent peaceful demonstrations in Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, and other parts of the world.

The full demand of the protesters, which they said would be pursued peacefully, was published early Saturday by PREMIUM TIMES.
Armed officials believed to be personnel of the SSS, in the early hours of Saturday, took Mr Sowore into custody allegedly in connection with the coming protest.

A witness, who identified himself as Mr Sowore’s driver, said the officers left in a manner typical of deadly kidnappers.
Lagos-based human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, called for Mr Sowore’s immediate release, saying a call for revolution “is not treasonable under any guise.”

However, the organisers of #RevolutionNow said the protest would go on despite Mr Sowore’s arrest.

In their statement, the police acknowledged Nigerians have a constitutional right to speech and peaceful assembly, but warned, still, that the protest planned by Mr Sowore should be scrapped because it may turn violent.

The statement claimed that a video had been circulating online that called for violence during the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest, although the video was attributed to a name not known to be associated with Mr Sowore or any of the multiple leaders of the planned march.
The full statement of the police as released by Force Headquarters spokesperson, Frank Mba, is reproduced below:
The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media by the ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria and others’, inciting Nigerians, home and abroad, to join a planned ‘revolution’ march against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, 5th August, 2019 with the sole aim of forcing a regime change in the country.

The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the call amounts to treasonable felony and acts of terrorism and will therefore not stand idly-by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the land.

While acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government which clearly is the meaning of ‘revolution’. Needless to state that Nigeria is a democratic republic and has well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.

The Force therefore warns the organisers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathisers of the group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’ to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed “revolution”, as the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above planned criminal act.

Parents and guardians are therefore enjoined to impress on their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used in whatever form by any person or group of persons to cause breach of law and order in the country.

The police will work with other law enforcement agencies and positive minded Nigerians to protect, defend and secure our public peace and space.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/344622-sowore-revolutionnow-protest-an-act-of-terrorism-police-ig-adamu.html

No going back. Even when we are not protesting, we are being killed. So what has changed? Nigeria has already been hijacked by evil people.

"An act of terrorism"...what a country.

What did I just read here? I am so sorry to say this, no hope for Nigerians living in Nigeria. I feel sorry for people living in that hellhole

Everything apart from Fulani herdsmen attacks is act of terrorism

Imagine this oloriburuku calling peaceful protest an act of terrorism..... But ur Fulani brothers killing daily is an act of good deed....sadly the unless and brain washed youth will still keep quiet.... I weep for naija


Naija people enjoy ur next level o....I'm in Kenya if u quote me with negative vibes oya kill ur self

[img]https://media./images/ba63bf7eb25955ab03c872b80b577b5b/tenor.gif[/img]

One way or another, this devilsh govt will go down.

The same people who are criticising buhari for kidnapping sowore were the same people laughing at Nnamdi kanu for running away from armoured tanks.

How come none of you condemned buhari for invading kanus home and killing innocent people?

You Nigerians are shamelessly hypocritical.

Yet it was not an act of terrorism in 2014 When Buhari was at the fore front of the protest against Jonathan's government.

IPOB - Peaceful protests - terrorists

Shittes - peaceful protests - terrorists

Sowore - peaceful protests - terrorists


Killer herdsmen - give them more lands

Boko Haram - freed & given opportunity to run for president...

Funny government...

Protesting is now terrorism but invading villages while killing and invading farmlands deserves settlement with RUGA abi

when bullhari and that ugly bastard thieffnubu were protesting in 2014 it was act of patriotism abi koni dani fun yin sir Mr I G Ema sofo danu ni

we don enter 1 chance vehicle of Next Level

thunder74:
No going back. Even when we are not protesting, we are being killed. So what has changed? Nigeria has already been hijacked by evil people.

Lol

Who is the we?

Are you being killed typing on nairaland?


Get your asss out there and walk the talk.

Just small carelessness from federal government against this protest "Boom" the whole thing will eventually get out of hand, which kind nonsense is this?

Any mumu SE or SS Person that will join in this foolishness will have himself or herself to blame.

The same Sowore that gang up to bring Buhari to power, the revolution that Yoruba will run away and tag it Igbo revolution if anything goes wrong.

They are proposing amnesty for Fulani militia in Zamfara. Soon other Fulani militia branches across Nigeria will also enjoy the amnesty programme because they have killed many .
But its different medicine for others they tagged terrorists. IPOB , Shiite , Sowere group and Amnesty International. It will keep going on like until monkey go go market but I no go return.

Odingo1:
Any mumu SE or SS Person that will join in this foolishness will have himself or herself to blame.

The same Sowore that gang up to bring Buhari to power, the revolution that Yoruba will run away and tag it Igbo revolution if anything goes wrong.

Let's just forget about ethnicity for once and act towards a common goal.
Bad economic policies, recession and its effects knows no ethnic race.

They should have just let these people have their protest, it wasn't like the protest would even move a pinch of salt sef.


PDP should be rallying round as minority instead of this loot and bark on internet style they are docile for

This government likes the word terrorism no be small

Sowore should continue deceiving his self

H