Following the invitation to it for a meeting with the Lagos State Police Command, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement has proposed a virtual meeting with the Command, citing logistical challenges that would prevent key members from attending physically.
This proposal was detailed in a letter sent on Wednesday to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Intelligence Department, Jaiyeoba Joseph, by the group’s legal representatives, Inibehe Effiong Chambers.
The police had invited prominent members of the movement, including its National Coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon, to meet with the new Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, on Tuesday.
According to the police letter, the meeting was intended to address “issues of national interests,” including the group’s planned protest on October 1, 2024, tagged ‘FearlessInOctober.’
Sources within the organisation expressed concerns that the invitation for a physical meeting might be a tactic to detain key figures of the movement.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, they indicated that the group feared potential arrests.
However, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, a superintendent of police, confirmed the invitation and dismissed any concerns about arresting the organisers, assuring that the meeting would be friendly.
“There is no intention of arresting anyone,” Hundeyin said.
The letter from the movement’s solicitors noted that several executive members of the TIB were currently out of Lagos and would find it challenging to attend the meeting in person.
“Due to the short notice and the fact that several key members of the Take It Back Movement are currently out of Lagos State, attending the physical meeting may be impracticable,” the letter explained.
As an alternative, the TIB proposed a virtual meeting, stating that it would be more convenient for all participants to join remotely and engage productively in discussions.
“We respectfully propose a virtual meeting as an alternative, as this would enable all necessary participants to join remotely and contribute productively to the discussions,” the letter read.
The group also expressed willingness to reschedule the meeting for early October if a physical presence was deemed essential by the police.
The planned October 1 protest is set to address key national issues, including the economic hardship currently facing Nigerians, exacerbated by rising inflation and the ongoing fuel scarcity.
The TIB movement is expected to lead the protest, as part of its ongoing #EndBadGovernance campaign.
