The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Lagos on
Monday, came short of a war front, as Motorcycle (Okada) riders
encountered armed policemen, causing gridlock on the Yaba-Ojuelegba
road.
Apparently acting on orders, the policemen surrounded the NLC
building, take-off point of the protest. This however did little to
deter the organisers, Joint Action Front (JAF), as they remained
adamant, saying they needed no permit to hold a peaceful rally.
As tension grew, the police who were already overwhelmed by the
gathering, called for reinforcement from nearby stations. Four of the
people distributing leaflets among the crowd were later arrested, an
action which further angered the protesters.
Protesting further against the obstruction of the rally, JAF
Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, told the police team thus “If Fashola
still smokes despite warnings that tobacco smokers are liable to die
young; motorbike operators also have a right to continue their
operations with provided warnings that bike passengers are liable to be
injured in an accident”.
Culled: 24/7 Nigerian news
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