On January 01 2012, there was a nationwide outcry over the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

This led to anti-subsidy protests across the country tagged #OccupyNigeria. The Lagos version of the protest was at Gani Fawehinmi Garden Ojota.

Ademola Aderinde was shot dead by a trigger happy policeman while playing football on the streets of Lagos during the protest. The policeman in question was later summarily dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force. At the end of the protest, sixteen persons were killed across the country (Lagos, Ilorin, Maiduguri and Gusau) all by policemen.

On June 07, 2005, six promising Nigerians Ekene Isaac Mgbe, Ifeanyin Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Paulinus Ogbonna and Anthony and Augustina Arebu were killed by police officers in the Apo area of Abuja while returning from work. The killings known as the ‘Apo six’ was gruesome as the victims ought to have been protected by their killers.

Just last month on July 19, 2017, a police officer attached to a new generation bank in the Apapa area of Lagos killed a tanker driver, sparking outrage and an instant reaction from the drivers who burnt down some banks within their reach.

The action of the Police on Monday against those protesting the continued absence of President Buhari from office at the Unity fountain is another example of the unprofessionalism in the force.

The Police has made it a point of duty to shut the mouths of protesters at every turn. They use tear gas and even live bullets at times.

This archaic and stupid attitude of the police of always attack protesters doesn’t make any sense and ought to be condemned in its strongest terms.

Editor