A coalition of civil society organisations and the African Action Congress have announced the arrest of one of the coordinators of #WeAreHungry Protests slated for Wednesday, June 12. According to the CSOs and the party in a statement, the activist, Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon was arrested in Lagos.
The statement was signed by the Speaker Bright, Coordinator, TakeitBack Movement, North West; Peluola Adewale, National Mobilization Officer, Joint Action Front (JAF); Hassan Taiwo Soweto, National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign; Comrade Ayoyinka Oni, Chairman, African Action Congress (AAC), Lagos Chapter; and Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, National Chair, Socialist Workers League.
The statement reads, “Information reaching us as at 10.05 pm is that one of the coordinators of the #WeAreHungry Protests slated for tomorrow, 12 June 2024 has been arrested by security agents in Lagos, following series of threats by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force to clampdown on peaceful democracy day protest.
“Around 10 pm, Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon, the National Coordinator of the TIB sent distress messages to members of the movement saying he has been arrested and taken to an unknown location. Efforts to reach him have been futile.
“We are not surprised at this strategy of intimidation but the news we have for this tyrannical and ruinous Tinubu regime is that the arrest is rather too late. The veil is off and Nigerians can see through the cluelessness of this government.
“We want to state categorically that the tactics of the Nigeria Security apparatus already mobilized by the Presidency, is too late. Nigerians are not deterred as they have resolved to protest against hardship and nothing shall stop them tomorrow.
“We also want to advise that instead of wasting time on harassment and arrests, the Police should release him immediately as these acts of human rights violation will be heavily resisted now and beyond.
“Our demands, in the midst of the wicked policies of the Tinubu regime, are that hardship must end, gruesome hunger must end, insecurity claiming lives of thousands must end, hike in fees must stop, fuel hike must end etc.
“In conclusion, we again urge Nigeria’s long suffering people not to concede to threat and intimidation. Protest is an alienable right under a democracy. We shall not relent until victory is achieved.”