In a statement issued by its coordinator, Lijofi Victor, the group said, "Concerned citizens, including members of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement Osun State chapter, converged for a protest demanding the immediate release of Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Take It Back Movement and a two-time presidential candidate of the African Action Congress."
The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement, Osun State chapter, has condemned what it described as acts of violence and human rights violations by the Osun State Command of the Nigerian Police Force during the “Free Sowore” protest in Osogbo.
In a statement issued by its coordinator, Lijofi Victor, the group said, "Concerned citizens, including members of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement Osun State chapter, converged for a protest demanding the immediate release of Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Take It Back Movement and a two-time presidential candidate of the African Action Congress."
The group said the protesters, carrying placards, marched from Okefia to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Ring Road, Osogbo.
"However, upon arrival, police officers stationed at the entrance blocked us, and a senior officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (Yusuf Taiwo) ordered that we be brutalised."
According to the statement, "The police fired teargas canisters and suspected rubber bullets, arresting the Osun State TIB coordinator and another protester, who were later released. About four protesters sustained various forms of injuries, and several items were seized, including an android phone, shoes, sandals, and a megaphone."
The TIB claimed it had credible information that the alleged assault was ordered by the Osun State Commissioner of Police.
"We have information suggesting that the Osun State Commissioner of Police ordered the brutalisation and seizure of the items."
The group accused the police of acting under the instructions of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan.
"We strongly condemn the Osun State Police Command's brutality and human rights violations, allegedly under the instruction of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan. We emphasize that the Nigerian Constitution (1999) guarantees every citizen's right to peaceful assembly and protest."
The statement added, "We demand respect for these fundamental rights and call for accountability for actions that infringe upon them. Despite this, we remain undeterred and now that Com. Sowore has been released, we hereby demand as follows," listing their demands as: An investigation into the assault against him.The trial of officers involved in the attacks and an immediate release of seized items from the Osun Comrades."
"An investigation into the attacks on protesters at the Osun state police command."
The group vowed to continue speaking out against violations of their rights. "We will continue to protest whenever our rights are trampled upon."
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Friday fired teargas canisters at a group of peaceful protesters gathered at the police headquarters in Osogbo, Osun State, demanding the immediate release of Sowore.
The demonstration, which was part of a coordinated nationwide action tagged #FreeSowore, quickly turned chaotic after the Osun State Commissioner of Police ordered officers to disperse the crowd using force.
Speaking exclusively to SaharaReporters, one of the protesters who managed to escape the scene described how officers violently disrupted the protest and targeted demonstrators.
"Police are shooting at our comrades. We had action today for #FreeSowore protest in some state. That was what led to the shooting. At the moment, we still have comrades at police command,” the activist said under condition of anonymity for security reasons."
“The CP ordered that they should disperse us with teargas. In fact, one of our phones fell and it's now with the police.”
SaharaReporters learned that the protesters were unarmed and chanting solidarity songs when police stormed the area in patrol vans, lobbing multiple teargas canisters into the crowd without warning.
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