Police, Osun protesters trade words over seized vehicle 

The #EndBadGovernance protest march continued in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Wednesday, just as members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ alleged that police operatives seized vehicles and speakers it hired to create awareness during the exercise.

The protesters, comprised mainly of Omoyele Sowore-backed group members, converged on Freedom Park, Osogbo, to begin the day’s march in the morning.

However, police operatives who came to the area, told the protesters that they did not inform the command that a protest would be held and asked them to disperse.

While addressing journalists after the protest march for the day had been concluded, the leader of the group, Sunday Oguntola, alleged the seizure of their vehicle by the police.

Oguntola said, “The Nigerian Police Force came in their numbers, mobilised and said that we cannot hold a protest. They even had to hijack the vehicle that we rented to bring our sound, including our speakers.

“They hijacked the vehicle saying they could not work for us because we did not inform them about the protest before.

“We made it categorically clear to them that we do not need the permission of the Nigerian Police Force to hold a peaceful protest and assembly ”

But when contacted for a reaction, Osun Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, said the group could not provide permission it got before embarking on the protest, adding that the national leadership of the movement wrote the Force Headquarters informing it of plans to participate in one day protest which was held on Tuesday.

He also dismissed allegations that police seized a vehicle belonging to the group, noting that when members of the movement met with the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abba, they never mentioned that a vehicle belonging to them was seized by the police.

He said, “They met with the CP and they were told the national leadership of the movement wrote the Force Headquarters, informing it that they would be participating in a one-day protest which was held on Tuesday.

“But they wanted to go ahead with another protest and we told them they have no approval to do that. We advised them to go through the proper channel. At the meeting, they never mentioned anything like their vehicle was seized.”