Two rallies are being held simultaneously under Ikeja Bridge on Friday as human rights groups and government supporters clashed over control of the protest ground.
One rally was organized by human rights groups and activists including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, #EndBadGovernance protester Hassan Taiwo Soweto, and others to protest insecurity in Nigeria.
A counterprotest was staged at the same location by a group calling itself Team Nigeria in support of President Bola Tinubu. The struggle for control of the venue created tension and almost led to physical confrontations before police intervened.
As of the time of filing this report, a police team led by Akinwumi Oke was working to manage the situation.
Each side came with heavy music equipment, blasting music in an attempt to drown out the other.
Tension heightened when Falana, his wife Funmi Falana and son Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, arrived at the venue. Their arrival energized the anti-government protesters, but Team Nigeria continued blasting music at high volume.
Falana told the protesters the demonstration was against the abduction of children in Oyo, Zamfara, Kebbi and other parts of the country.
He also said the protest was called to stop police harassment and hunger, and to demand democracy. “What we have in Nigeria is civil rule, not democracy,” he said.
He warned the police to do their job by stopping the pro-Tinubu rally from disturbing their rally.