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As Nigerians gathered in Abuja to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the 2020 EndSARS protests, legal associate at Citizens Gavel, Taiwo Owoeye, has urged citizens to maintain calm and peaceful conduct during demonstrations, warning that violence could endanger lives and defeat the purpose of the movement.
Speaking during an interview with NewsCentral Television on Monday, Owoeye emphasised that peaceful assembly remains the most effective and lawful way to demand accountability from authorities.
The lawyer also clarified misconceptions around police permits for protests, noting that while the Supreme Court has ruled that citizens do not require police approval to assemble, notifying law enforcement remains essential for public safety.
“The essence of getting police permits whenever you’re going on a protest is not about approval,” Owoeye explained. “It’s for protection—so that in case another group comes to disrupt the protest, the police can easily handle those trying to hijack it.”
She cited recent demonstrations where authorities designated specific venues and time frames for protests, such as Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos and Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, describing such directives as legal under the Public Order Act, which empowers state governors to determine protest locations.
At the rally, participants also held a minute of silence in memory of victims of the EndSARS protests, described by one of the organisers, Omoyele Sowore as “one of the darkest days in Nigeria’s history.”
The gathering, which also doubled as a call for the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, drew a diverse crowd united by broader frustrations over governance, economic hardship, and corruption.
