Juliana Francis 
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrenwaju Ishola today October 1, 2024, during the #FearlessInOctober protest, displayed his adroitness in being able to manage the activists.
It will be recalled that before the planned protest, the CP, along with other sister agencies met with stakeholders on Friday, September 27, where Nigerians were urged to shelve the protest, if possible, but if not to ensure it was violence-free and not hijacked by hoodlums.
Some of the demands on placards carried by the protesters on the day were that the government should reverse the cost of fuel, check hunger, reduce electricity tariffs, and end anti-people policies, among others.
Ikeja Under Bridge
The protesters and organizers gathered at the Ikeja Under Bridge as early as 7: 30am, but the CP and his men were already there before them. It was from there they all marched to Freedom Park in Ojota. CP Ishola was fully on the ground to monitor the deployment of officers and operational resources.
The pleas of the CP appeared to have worked as the activists conducted themselves properly. Ishola and his men further endeared themselves to the protesters by buying snacks and bottled water for them. Ishola said: “You can see for yourself, that the whole place is peaceful. We’ve been here since 3a.m. The protesters met us here.
Some asked me what guarantee they had that they were safe, and they told them that they were truly safe as long as they operated within the ambit of the law. “There will not be any issue, before this protest, I had already met with stakeholders and a good number of them are here. We all reached an agreement in my office that there would not be a breakdown of law and order.”
Protesters speak
One of the activists, Comrade Oluwatobi Alimi, when asked his reason for participating in the protest, said: “Let’s start with the N70, 000 minimum wage, which the Federal Government to date is yet to fulfil.
It is when Nigerians do not speak out that ills continue, and the people are taken for granted. I can tell you that it is going to be a series of protests.”
Another protester, Samuel Ilori said: “There are many reasons for this protest. Aside from hunger in the country, let’s talk about fraud in the electricity sector.
It has been a sham with a new alphabetical order of bands. “ The Discos promised certain hours of electricity provision and increased tariff, not following the law before increasing the tariff.
Generally speaking, Nigeria is a giant in an ant’s body; we are not progressing at all. “The only people who progress in Nigeria are those in the government and they make policies that benefit them. The masses in the country are mourning today, not celebrating.”
Some arrests
However, despite the best efforts of the police and the organisers a number of activists were arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in the Ojota area of Lagos State for minor infractions.
They were, however, granted bail soon after the CP, Ishola, gave the directive during the visit of social activist, Omoyele Sowore, to his office at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin: “In the spirit of camaraderie and bolstering trust between the Police and civil society organisations, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, directed that the persons arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park on October 2, 2024, for causing a breach of public peace under the guise of protesting, be granted bail with immediate effect.
“The CP gave the directive during the visit of Comrade Omoyele Sowore to his office at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja.” Incidentally, certain individuals who reconvened at the protest site 24 hours after October 1 were, however, rounded up by the police.
Reacting to the arrest in a statement, the police command alleged that they were not protesters but individuals masquerading as such, with intentions to cause trouble.
The arrested individuals were identified as Funmi Robert, Sunday Obasoro, Sikiru Adeagbo, Babatunde Oyeleye, Akin Okunowo, Dare Toyin, Adebayo Shobogun, Michael Adeleke and Stanley Akonye.
All said and done though the protest went by largely peacefully due to the efforts of the police and organisers and shows that if there is proper synergy between the two it can be replicated across the nation with protests not degenerating into wanton destruction of properties and loss of lives.
