BREAKING: Organised Civil Society issues Advisory to hunger protest participants, warns govt agents against disruption
The Organised Civil Society has issued an advisory to all participants for a peaceful and successful protest beginning tomorrow across the country.
The 6-point advisory made available to The Frontier this evening through a press statement was signed by Head, Coordinating Secretariat, United Action Front of Civil Society, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi.
Below is the full statement (unedited):
PRESS STATEMENT
Wednesday, 31st July, 2024
Civil Society Advisory and Guide For a Hitch Free and Peaceful Nationwide Citizens’ Protests on Hunger and Hardships in Nigeria
….. Protesters Advised to Contact Civil Society Situation Room for Local and International Monitoring on Protest incidents
……Government Advised to Engage Citizens rather than Plot to Disrupt and Discredit Peaceful Protests of Citizens
The Leadership of the Organised Civil Society, following the crucial meeting with the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria, Kayode Egbetokun yesterday on the Nationwide Citizens’ Mass Protests scheduled to commence tomorrow, Thursday, 1st to Saturday, 10th August, wishes to issue some advisories and guides for the success of the Nationwide Citizens’ Action against Hunger and Hardships in Nigeria as follows:
1. Citizens participating in the protest rallies and processions are advised to be civil, orderly and focused and not allow anybody or forces to provoke or distract them from the agenda and goal of the Protest, which is to compel government to end Hunger and Hardships in the country
2. Protesters should endeavour to come out with their small pack of bottle of water and snacks if possible and should be smartly dressed
3. In the light of external aggression and provocation or any form of help related to the protests, Citizens are advised to get their android phones handy during the period of the protests and to make use of the camera or tape on their various phones to record or take pictures of any form of incidents that may require the help or support of security agents, civil society monitors and lawyers and send their recorded incidents via the WhatsApp of the hotlines of the Civil Society Situation Room on Protests Ethics Monitoring, for urgent interventions of Local and International Monitors.
4. Protesters are advised not to come to protest ground with sharp, hard and violent objects or weapons as anybody seen with such objects and weapons shall be apprehended and handed over to security agents or protest monitoring team for prosecution.
5. For help and support during the nationwide protests, citizens are enjoined to contact Protest Monitors at the situation room of the organised Civil Society via the WhatsApp of the following hotlines: +23481-884-51511, +234 814 286 4904,+234 703 504 6101, +234 803 582 3617. Please note that the above hotlines are for whatsApp messages Only.
6. Lastly, Government and agents are once again advised to demobilise and caution those being recruited to threaten and intimidate peaceful Protesters to desist so as to avoid unnecessary clash and battle in the interest of peace and stability of Nigeria. As any mobilisation or confrontation sponsored,as usual, against peaceful Protesters may lead to another unwanted riots in the mode of #EndSars debacle in Nigeria.
Signed:
Olawale Okunniyi
(Veteran Che)
08033993867
Head, Coordinating Secretariat,
United Action Front of Civil Society.
