By Olalekan Olabulo

The October 1st protest against hardship in Nigeria continued in the Ojota area of Lagos State as members of civil society groups, including Omoyele Sowore, called on the government to reduce the price of petrol and provide Nigerians with relief from hardship and suffering.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olanrewaju Ishola, commended the protesters for being orderly at the time of filing this report.

Two groups of protesters converged at Ikeja Underbridge, while another group gathered at Freedom Park in Ojota.

The Ojota group, however, refused to limit their activities to Freedom Park and blocked a section of the Ikorodu Road.

There was a heavy police presence as the Ikeja protesters marched through Awolowo Way in Ikeja to Allen Avenue, from where they joined those in Ojota.

One of the organiSers of the protest, tagged #FearlessOctober1stProtest, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, stated that the protesters had vowed to remain non-violent, even if provoked by security forces.

There was uproar and wild jubilation as the convener of the Take It Back Movement, Omoyele Sowore, joined the protest in Ikeja, before moving to Ojota.

The Lagos Police Commissioner, CP Ishola, while speaking with newsmen, described the protest as peaceful and urged the protesters to continue being peaceful.

He also assured that the police in the state would ensure that criminals do not take advantage of the protest to foment trouble or cause a breakdown of law and order.

At the time of filing this report, the protesters had all converged at Freedom Park in Ojota, where they were being closely monitored by security personnel, led by the Lagos State Police Commissioner.