On the second day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, participants gathered in Ojota, Lagos, faced threats and were labeled ‘Omo Igbo’ (Igbo children), implying that they were not Lagosians and thus had no right to protest in Lagos State.
Reports suggest that political thugs, allegedly sponsored by the Lagos State government, targeted the protesters with these accusations.
This development follows a controversial post by @Lagospedia on X (formerly Twitter) that called for the expulsion of Igbo people from Lagos and the South-West. The post, which went viral on July 27, 2024, announced a planned #IgboMustGo protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, causing widespread outrage.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had condemned the post, emphasizing that Lagos remains a welcoming home for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity. In a statement, his media aide, Gboyega Akosile, denounced the post as reckless and divisive, and a deliberate attempt to incite discord between the Yoruba and other tribes.
Despite the governor’s disavowal, protesters in Ojota reported facing threats from thugs. Funmilayo Ade-Ajayi, a protester, shared a video on X, detailing the harassment. She expressed her frustration at being labeled ‘Omo Igbo’ and questioned why her right to protest as a Nigerian citizen was being challenged. Ade-Ajayi also criticized the lack of police presence and inaction in protecting the protesters from these threats.
Ade-Ajayi said, “Only for to get to this place where the boys were telling us what do you come to do here. You ‘omo Igbo’, you came to Yoruba land to do this. He was threatening me. Even if I am ‘omo Igbo’, am I not a Nigerian?” She added that there were no security personnel present to protect them and called for the police commissioner to ensure their safety.
She concluded by stressing that all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, have the right to protest and should not be subjected to threats or violence.