Solidarity Protest || Creative Nonfiction
James and I went out to join the protesters. We were not lured but we felt it was a conscious effort to join our compatriots to air our grievances against the ruling government on minimum wage and taxation in the country. As students, our pocket money can no longer serve the purpose and salaries for our parents have not been increased. There was only one way out of this mess and that is to make the government know that life is becoming quite unbearable for most of the citizens. It was with these thoughts that we marched out of our rooms to join the mammoth crowd of protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions on them.
All we are saying, give power. All we are saying, give food.
The mammoth crowd sang in the top of their voices while lurking hands together as they marched towards the parliament building.
One styling thing that caught my attention as I joined in the protest was when I saw two of my lecturers among the protesters.
Professor Duke Okemute taught me political thought in my first year at the university. It was during his lectures that I got the political awakening and it won't be forgotten in a jivy. Until then, I was in political darkness and never knew some of the things that were supposedly my rights.
On the other hand, Dr. Zach was the head of the history department. He was an activist by his own right and had been in the forefront of the struggle for the university staff. His name rings a bell in the university community.
As we marched towards the parliament building in Lagos where I had come to spend my compulsory holiday due to the ongoing nationwide strike, I saw some police and military men carrying assault rifles as if they were going to face some insurgents. Fear gripped me. I lost the courage I thought I had received at professor Duke Okemute's classes. From the look on the face of the police officers, we were heading for a serious collision with the armed men.
Since the leaders of the protest weren't back out, we pressed forward, almost taking over the gate of the parliament building from the security detail, then a loud bang followed.
There was smoke everywhere. Suddenly, I let go of the guy I was holding. When I started to have a running nose and pepperish eyes, it dawned on me that the loud bang we heard earlier was the policemen shooting tear gas.
The mammoth crowd scattered except the protest leaders who were surrounded by the police officers. They sang aloud while the other protesters scampered. The policemen resumed their duty of raiding as many protesters as possible. I was unlucky due to my inexperience.
If you move, I will move you.
One fierce-looking officer shouted from behind me. I halted at once as he pounced on me and three me into the waiting blackmaria, a vehicle specially built to arrest criminals. Like a fish out of the river I moved from one end of the vehicle to the other.
I met some guys in the vehicle. A few of them did not bother to get out, they just sat on the floor of the vehicle, most likely, they had accepted their fate.
All the leaders who organised the peaceful protest were also arrested and the vehicle moved at top speed into the street toward the popular Lion building, the headquarters of the police investigative department.
Like common criminals, we were made to walk Into the yard on a straight file and sit on the bare floor. Soon, a number of top police officers came around to see us. They came with a media crew who were trying to make video recordings.
I hid my face so that the camera recorded me. I was just not comfortable. When I thought that it was over, that there was no way we were not going to be accused of disturbing national peace, a loud voice from behind shouted:
Freedom! Freedom!! Freedom from police brutality. Freedom from financial misappropriation.
It was the voice of Professor Duke Okemute, the political scientist who taught me in my first year. His voice roused the sleeping giant in the protesters and they all joined:
Solidarity forever! Solidarity forever!! Solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our rights.
We never knew the process was aired live on national television. It was a very rough session but we all spent less than twelve hours in the police custody. Some human rights activists and lawyers applied for our bail without payment as we were only using our fundamental human rights.
That few hours with the police were the most unsecured period of my life. It felt like all hell was let loose over me. If you know what innocent citizens suffer in the hands of some notorious police officers, you will never desire to be in their custody for any supposed criminal offence.
Let me say, you guys were lucky to have people that came out to bail you within the little time frame. Some protesters usually get forgotten for days before people come to apply for bail.
This country, don't just get involved in police case😅
Seriously. They will just means you up even if you were right.
Out with no bail? Hmm, you guys are lucky , so Nigerian police don't understand that. It's crazy how peaceful protesters are treated like thrash. Smh.
It's quite annoying seeing the very government agency who are supposed to be the custodians off the law, battering the law and care less of what the outcome may be.
That's how things are done. The Lekki toll gate saga is still covered up with lies. Just stay safe.
Sure.
I learned the lesson of my life. In our country, the laws only hold those in the lower class or who are not in support of the government of the day.
That's it. It is our sad reality
This is inspiring and sad at the same time. We are free to voice our frustrations and discontent with our government's actions, but instead of listening, they see it as an act of rebellion. They fear the citizens and use their power to silence us.
It's rather unfortunate to see our government which ought to defend the tenets of democracy now working against it.
An experience that left you with all your emotions on the surface. Fortunately, nothing more serious happened and you were able to get out of that predicament.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Excellent day.
Thank you. The experience taught me a lot of lesson. In a lawless country as ours', it's all man for himself. The government don't want to be talked to.
An experience with Nigerian police is never always a good one. Thank God you got out safe and sound.
That's was a risky you took. Remember when I try to join a protest, I almost lost my life from stamped, since then I hail from afàr
Stampede is another reason why people don't join protests. Hailing from afar is a wise step from other risks too. I have since learned to keep my distance.
You were lucky to have get out of the police custody the same day you were arrested. It rarely happened that that way. The irony of it is that we are in the same economy with the reckless policemen. The bear is the brunt too.