A large contingent of security personnel, comprising agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) and police officers, has surrounded the office of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The security operatives laid siege to the office known as Rights House, at 43, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, off Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.
A heavy security presence, comprising both uniformed and plainclothes operatives, was deployed to the office on Friday ahead of a public symposium and candlelight procession in honour of those who lost their lives due to bad governance in Nigeria.
The event is scheduled for the ninth day of the #EndBadGovernance protests movement and aims to pay tribute to individuals who lost their lives due to poor governance in Nigeria.
The invite reads: “You are cordially invited to join us on Day 9 of the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria movement.
“Event: Public Symposium and Candlelight Procession. In Honour of: Our fallen heroes who have lost their lives due to bad governance
“Topic: “After 10 Days of Rage, What are the Next Steps in the Struggle to #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria?”
“Venue: Rights House, 43 Adeniyi Jones, Oba Akran, Ikeja, Lagos State.”
The event is scheduled to take place on Friday at 10:00 am. Organisers have requested that attendees wear black mourning attire and bring candles to participate in the solemn gathering.
“Join us as we come together to demand change and seek justice for those who have been affected by bad governance. Let’s take the next steps towards a better Nigeria!” the invite says.
SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that the CDHR had called for the reversal of fuel subsidy removal amid the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
The CDHR had released a statement through its President, Debo Adeniran, and Publicity Secretary, Idris Olayinka, criticising the president’s national broadcast for lacking specific timelines for his proposed promises.
The organisation argued that the speech focused too much on the government’s perceived achievements, which have yet to positively impact the lives of Nigerians.
“The CDHR charges the Federal Government to give timelines for the fulfillment of the proposed promises to ease the living conditions of Nigerian people.
“The CDHR demands immediate reversal of petroleum fuel subsidy, which has thrown the country into hyperinflationary conditions, and charges the FG to curb all corruptive elements that are associated with it. Also, the hike in electricity tariff should be reversed to return many businesses to production,” they said.
CDHR described the student loan scheme by the government as inadequate in solving education underfunding.
It also demanded that the Federal Government should investigate all human rights violations across the country as the “end bad governance” protest continues, bringing the perpetrators to justice and adequately compensating the victims.
It, however, warned the leaders and the mobilisers of the protests against violence and destruction of public and private properties.
