Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo earlier today, August 1st, 2024, reacted to the action of the police, expressing her displeasure via her Instagram page. She posted videos of violence in a set of posts and urged President Tinubu to protect protesters. Ojo also warned the authorities not to stop people’s peaceful protest, stressing that the citizens should have rights.
Nigerians are joining the #EndBadGovernment campaign across the country to express their anger over various issues. There have been numerous incidents of police confrontation with criminally-minded groups in the course of the protest in different states including Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Borno. These incidences have attracted a lot of attention to the extent that many are now demanding that the police officers stop using excessive force.
For instance, a group of protesters assembled at Eagles Square in Abuja and the police sought to driving them away by firing tear gas canisters vertically. However, the determined crowd did not relent and proceeded to march, showcasing their unwillingness to be silenced. The same happened at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State where protesters were dispersed using tear gas. These actions elicited the anger of citizens on the social platforms with many decrying the use of force on the protesters.
With the #EndBadGovernment hashtag gaining popularity, society is looking forward to authorities’ reaction to the people’s demands. The involvement of the actress and other celebrities has also added to increased focus on the matter to show that the rights of peaceful protesters should be protected.
