A large contingent of security personnel has been deployed to the Ikeja Underbridge area of Lagos on Thursday morning as protesters began gathering to mark June 12 Democracy Day with demonstrations against the current administration.
Officers from the Nigeria Police Force's Area F Division were prominently positioned at the protest venue, maintaining vigilance as civil society organisations and pro-democracy activists assembled to voice their concerns.
The demonstrators are protesting what they describe as deteriorating economic conditions and growing insecurity under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Despite the protest not having officially commenced at the time of reporting, security forces remained on high alert throughout the area.
Democracy Day Significance
June 12 holds special significance in Nigeria's political history as Democracy Day, commemorating the annulled presidential election of June 12, 1993. The date has traditionally been marked with various activities, including protests highlighting current socio-political challenges.
In related developments, reports indicate that police authorities and civil society organisations had previously reached an agreement to ensure peaceful protests across Lagos during the Democracy Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been commissioning multiple development projects in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State as part of activities marking the Democracy Day celebrations.
The Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has described Nigeria's democratic journey as a "work in progress," highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the nation's democratic institutions.
As the day unfolds, observers will be watching closely to see how the protests develop and how security forces respond to the demonstrators expressing their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Stay connected with BenriNews for more updates on this developing story.
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