The organisers of the October 1 protest against the worsening hardship in the country have insisted they will go ahead with the ‘showdown’ despite opposition from the Federal Government and warnings from the Nigerian Police Force.

Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and activist, who is one of the leaders of the planned protest, provided an update via his social media platform X on Monday, affirming that the protests will proceed and will take place nationwide.

According to Sowore, the nationwide protest will be held at Eagles Square in Abuja. He emphasised that the protests will be peaceful in nature. “The protests will take place across all parts of Nigeria because the scale of devastation, hunger, insecurity, and hardship that this government has inflicted on Nigerians is widespread. I will stress again that these will be peaceful protests, as they have always been.”

“The last protests were peaceful, yet the government met the protesters with batons and bullets. We will not be discouraged. Our only weapon is truth, and no amount of force or violence will stop us from speaking truth to power,” he stated.

Sowore further highlighted the escalating hunger across the country, stressing that Nigerians must come out in large numbers to protest nationwide.

“Since the last protest just two months ago, petrol prices have increased by almost ₦300 per litre. The naira has further depreciated, and market prices have surged. Bandits have taken over, wiping out entire communities. Floods are devastating our cities.

“Under these circumstances, can anyone be surprised that the Nigerian people want to voice their displeasure with the government’s failure to address the issues affecting them? We are ready to protest, and we are determined to do so peacefully. I can assure you that thousands of voices will be raised in protest on October 1.”

“The cries of hunger and pain from Nigerians will not be silenced by the government,” Sowore declared during an interview shared on his social media handle.

Sowore’s statements follow remarks from the Nigerian Police Force, which claimed they had not been formally notified of any protest. “We are fully prepared. Our organisers are on the ground and will not be going into hiding. These are revolutionary times, and Nigerians will take to the streets en masse from 7 a.m. on October 1,” he added in the same interview.

In Lagos, the organisers plan to begin their march at the Ikeja Under Bridge at 7:30 a.m.

Investigations by Channels Television revealed that the Nigerian Police Force has already begun deploying officers across various states to prevent any outbreak of violence.

In Niger State, the Police Command confirmed it had deployed personnel and security assets. In Minna, the state capital, gun-wielding security operatives were observed stationed at major locations, including popular markets and road junctions.

The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, stated, “The Niger State Police Command will deploy an adequate number of personnel and operational assets to ensure public safety and order. The state Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, has instructed Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to enhance police visibility in their areas to prevent any breaches of public peace.”

In Kano State, the Police Command confirmed it had deployed personnel to strategic locations. Similarly, in Kaduna State, the police command reported that proactive measures had been taken to prevent potential violence during the protest.

In Kogi State, the Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, advised the protest organisers to reconsider their plans and give the government more time to resolve the nation’s economic challenges. Onuoha made this appeal during a meeting with members of the Take It Back Movement at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, it was stated, “The Commissioner of Police advised the group to reconsider their planned protest and allow the government more time to fix the economy.”

Security personnel across the country are reportedly preparing for the protests. Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Director of the Take It Back Movement, confirmed that preparations were in “top gear” and reiterated that the organisers had done nothing wrong, despite the repressive measures of the Tinubu-led administration.

“Our preparations are in top gear nationwide, and we will come out on Tuesday, October 1 as planned. This is not only to exercise our constitutional right to protest but also to restate our opposition to the neo-liberal direction of Tinubu’s government. We are organising openly and have no plans of going underground because we have not committed any offence. We are within our rights and the law,” Sanyaolu said.

Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, added, “I’m not going anywhere. Protest is not a crime. I will not flee, having done nothing wrong.”

Andy Akpotive, the Publicity Secretary for the Take It Back Movement in Rivers State, remarked that the protest was aimed at holding leaders accountable. “October 1, 2024, provides us with an opportunity to come out and declare that we will not be oppressed or enslaved in our own land, where we are equal citizens.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has reiterated that the court order restricting protests to two designated venues still stands. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), advised the organisers to avoid disrupting social and economic activities in Lagos, emphasising that the governor’s instructions to the Commissioner of Police remain in force.