Armed thugs on Thursday attacked protesters under the #TakeItBack movement, who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration over economic hardship and unemployment in the country.

The thugs descended on the protesters, who were led by human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and activist lawyer, Tope Temokun, at the popular Cathedral Junction in Akure, Ondo State.

While alleging that the thugs were sponsored by some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Sowore stated that the attackers arrived with dangerous weapons, after which they assaulted and dispersed the peaceful demonstrators.

The activist lamented that the security operatives deployed to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums turned a blind eye to the thugs’ actions against the peaceful demonstrators.

According to Sowore, the attack by armed thugs was an affront to the country’s nascent democracy as it commemorates the June 12 struggle.

He said, “It is very unfortunate that while we have converged here at the cathedral to raise our voices against the hardship and hunger in the country, some armed thugs came to unleash terror on us. They came with weapons, disrupting everywhere and chasing people away. These are a set of people who were sponsored by the APC government in the state.

“This is a big assault on democracy as the people of the nation gathered to celebrate June 12, but we shall resist this and won’t allow anyone to keep trampling on our rights. Nobody has the right to prevent another Nigerian from expressing themselves, whether the person oppressed is a policeman or whosoever.

“We are not going to accept it. We are not, and that’s why we have come here today. These thugs came to sabotage and hijack our protest. They came to that place to attack the peaceful protest.”

Sowore, who lamented the current state of the nation’s economy under President Bola Tinubu, stressed that the people can no longer breathe and are tired, emphasising that Nigerians will continue to raise their voices against the hardship under the current administration.

Temokun revealed that the State Police Command was duly notified of the protest in order to ensure the safety and protection of peaceful demonstrators.

The commissioner of police in the state, Wilfred Afolabi, however, commended the demonstrators for their peaceful gathering but denied that security agencies collaborated with the thugs.

While describing the protesters’ allegations as baseless, Afolabi vowed to investigate the attack on the demonstrators.

“We deployed our officers very early to places we considered flashpoints in the state, including Akure, Owo, Ikare, and Ore, to avoid any disruption. I also got the information of an attack on the protesters, and I have asked for evidence. I also ordered a discreet investigation into that.” (The Guardian)