Police officers were deployed across Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Thursday to monitor and protect protesters who took to the streets as part of the June 12 demonstrations.
The protest was organised by the Take It Back Movement, a group that had earlier announced plans for a peaceful nationwide protest to speak out against the rising cost of living and economic hardship in Nigeria.
In Osun, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said officers were on the ground to make sure the protest did not turn violent.
“So far, the protest has been peaceful. Although we have the protesters in different factions,” he said.
According to him, there were at least three groups protesting in the state, including the Take It Back Movement, also known as the Sowore group, and a coalition of other groups.
“Nonetheless, we are monitoring all of them. They are about three factions and we are monitoring all of them,” Ojelabi added.
He assured the people of Osun that the police would continue to protect lives and property during and after the protest.
Before the protest, on Wednesday, the Osun State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Victor Lijofi, had released a statement asking the police and state government not to disrupt their peaceful demonstration.
