Socialist Workers League unequivocally condemns all attempts by the Nigerian state to repress the #EndBadGovernance protest movement, including the arrest of Comrade Ayoola Babalola, a journalist and member of the SWL at Abuja, today 3 August. Ayoola and five others are currently being held at the Wuye police station. They were rallying protesters at the MKO Abiola Stadium grounds. They were unarmed and expressing their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression and assembly.
Earlier in the morning, the police had twice attempted to arrest another member of the SWL at the same rally ground. This was initially resisted, and the police retreated, only to come back and give chase, shooting at him as he evaded the unwarranted arrest.
We take note of the illusion the police have that with the reduction of numbers at the protest grounds in Abuja, over the weekend, they could dampen people’s morale and kill the flame of anger in the hearts of the protesters. But this will fail, because the fire of hunger and hardship that propelled the movement in the first place is still fervently burning.
The people united cannot be defeated. We will not be cowed by the spineless antics of the state. And we will not condone the despicable arrests being illegally effected by security personnel. We thus reiterate our demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Ayoola Babalola and all others so arrested.
Kunle ‘Wizeman’ AJAYI (National Chairperson) & Amara NWOSU (National Secretary)
