The national leadership of the Civil Rights Council (CRC) has condemned an alleged attack meted out to its members by agents of government across the states.
The National Coordinator of CRC in Nigeria, Paul Ogbonna, in a statement, disclosed that the CRC, Asaba unit and others across the country had earlier complied with the police requirements for groups intending to participate in the peaceful protest to indicate interest by submitting a written application.
“However on August 1, 2024, members of the Civil Rights Councils and other Nigerians assembled for the protest, which proceeded along designated routes with police protection, adding that at some point, hoodlums jumped out of their cars and started beating the protesters and destroying protest materials such as placards, banners and leaflets. In the process some protesters sustained injuries.
The statement indicated that as in Lagos, Abuja, the thugs beat up the protesting Nigerians and made away with items belonging to the protesters such as phones power banks, faze caps, bells, phone chargers and staplers.
“As a responsible Civil Rights group we shall continue to stand on the side of the Nigerian people at all times. We support the peaceful protest across the country and urge all Nigerians to endeavour to be peaceful despite provocations by state officials and their thugs and resist the temptation of employing violence or going against the rule of law till the Government of Nigeria listens to the cry and demands of the Nigerian people” Ogbonna said.
