The Democracy Day protest in Akure, Ondo State, turned chaotic on Thursday as suspected thugs violently disrupted demonstrators voicing frustration over the nation’s worsening economic crisis and insecurity.
The protest, which unfolded in various parts of Nigeria including Lagos and Abuja, coincided with the commemoration of June 12 — the day symbolizing Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
However, what began as a peaceful demonstration in Akure quickly descended into disorder.
Protesters had gathered at key city points such as Cathedral Junction, the First Bank area, and the ‘A’ Division axis before the disruptions began.
Omoyele Sowore, a prominent rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), who led the protest in Akure, condemned the breakdown of order and pointed fingers at the police for failing in their constitutional role.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Sowore alleged that the attackers were deployed to deliberately derail the protest, despite formal notification to the authorities.
“A letter had already been sent to the commissioner of police by our legal team — not to seek permission, but to remind him of his duty to protect citizens,” Sowore said. “We even met with him in person, and he gave assurances, but clearly nothing was done. These thugs came to intimidate and attack us, and that’s a shame.”
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He emphasized that every Nigerian has the right to express dissent without fear of violence or suppression.
Also reacting to the disruption, human rights lawyer Tope Temokun described the incident as a disturbing assault on civil liberties and democratic rights.
“This is not just a disruption of a protest — it’s a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and free expression,” Temokun stated. “It’s a reflection of how deeply we still struggle with the basic tenets of democracy, even on Democracy Day.”
The protest, while marred by the attack in Ondo, forms part of a larger nationwide movement drawing attention to Nigeria’s deepening economic woes and rising insecurity.
As the dust settles in Akure, questions continue to mount over the role of the police and the broader commitment of authorities to safeguarding the democratic freedoms enshrined in the June 12 legacy.