Nigerian security forces fire tear gas at 'Revolution Now' protesters

Nigerian security forces have fired tear gas at 'Revolution Now' protesters to disperse them in Lagos on Monday, according to local media reports. It has been reported that the authorities have arrested over 10 persons including two journalists working with SaharaReporters, Victor Olugbenro and Tosin Ajuwon. The security agents have reportedly put the Lagos office of the media house under monitoring.

Earlier today there were reports that security agents had already surrounded the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, in anticipation of the Revolution Now protest march scheduled to hold today. But the protesters showed up anyway at the National Stadium chanting revolution songs. They were met with dozens of security officials blocking the entrance which led to a scuffle and a number of protestors received minor injuries.

The RevolutionNow protest is a nationwide demonstration against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government that was re-elected in February. The Nigerian Police had released a statement on Sunday calling the protests planned for today a treasonable offense. Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of the online medium, Sahara Reporters, who was also the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 General Election, had called for the staging of the RevolutionNow in what he described as a protest against bad governance in the country. He was arrested at his home on Saturday.