12 Tips to a Safe and Effective Protest Participation
The right to protest is a fundamental right enshrined and protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, best practices on protesting safely and how to protect yourself and others while protesting has become an essential knowledge for every citizen in this day and age.
Therefore, the following are some ways to conduct a peaceful and effective protest in a country like Nigeria:
1. Choose or identify the protest leader or leaders once you arrive at the point where the protest is to commence. This may be one leader per day or rotational leadership during the course of one day depending on the shape the protest will take, and the number of hours intended on the said day. Always follow instructions from event organizers or leaders about where to protest and when to move.
2. Assign town criers - 3 persons are suitable for this role, one in the front of the pack, one in the middle and one at the back. These persons are to amplify with the aid of a battery powered public address system messages, updates, notes of caution and escalation alarms to help coordinate group movement and curtail unwanted events. Ensure no unauthorized person is carrying a PAS withing the group.
3. Protect your cell phones. Lock your phone and turn off the thumb and face unlock facilities on your phones. Disable location services on all your apps and turn off message notifications on your home screen. Disable all AI assistants, Siri and Alexa and leave your phones locked when taking photos and videos.
4. Beware of counter protestants and undercover police within the crowd. Be wary of individuals who forcefully advocate for violence. Report them to protest leaders once they are identified especially when the crowd leaders or organizers seem peaceful and try discouraging others from engaging in violent acts. Don’t engage violence peddlers unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Undercover officers and infiltration agents may wear colored armbands to identify themselves and this color may vary from day to day.
5. Maintain safe physical distance one person to the other to prevent tripping the person in front of you by walking into their stride. Also do not shake hands, hug or share spoons and water bottles in order to prevent the transmission of disease of any kind. Do not run in the event of an escalation of alarm if the population of attendees is high. Just walk briskly to avoid a stampede. Avoid running in close gap unless absolutely necessary. Always move as a group and move slowly.
6. Wear protective and comfortable clothing. Keep some safety gears handy e.g. helmets, safety goggles, nose or gas masks, torchlights, face towel and an umbrella. Keep some snacks and a bottle of water handy. Avoid wearing identifying markers and name tags, keep valuables secure and out of sight and stay in well-lit and populated areas. Have your Placards handy. Make sure the inscriptions and requests on each placard is short and clear.
7. Do not attend any protest if you feel ill. Do not come with minors. Ensure that no trail of negative impact is left on state and individual facilities, businesses and properties as the protest proceeds. The pregnant, handicapped and elderly must be considered and protected during the processions of the protest.
8. Avoid every form of physical confrontation and contact with the police and all other law enforcement agents. If you are stopped by members of law enforcement and you sense that they intend to stir-up some provocation, bring out your phones at capture their activities on video. You have the right to record as part of your right to protest. If you are stopped, the police is not permitted to take or confiscate your device any videos or photos without a warrant.
9. Make sure you have a minimum of 2 bottles of water and some baking soda handy. The water is for your hydration and whenever shit hits the fans, mix in some baking soda to neutralize the effects of tear gas when used by police. Simply soak your face towel in the solution and wipe affected areas where the tear gas burns. If at any point gun shots are fired, lay on the ground chest-down and do not get up until you get an all-clear signal.
10. Make sure that someone at home who is not joining the protest is aware of where you have gone to participate in the protest. So, they can feed you on security information you may not be privy to. If the state decides to institute a curfew and the curfew is taking effect, police can issue an order on the protest ground to disperse. Please go home. They will give you time to comply. Failing to comply with a dispersal order during curfew will get you arrested. Go home and re-converge after curfew the following day.
11. If you are arrested, do not say anything. Ask for a lawyer immediately. Do not sign anything or agree to anything without having your lawyer present. Demand your right to a local phone to call a lawyer.
12. At the end of the protests, share your unique stories on social media. Lessons learned and suggested improvements that may be adopted for future events.
Closing remarks:
The right to protest is a fundamental human right of the ordinary Nigerian, and it is the only way that we the People of Nigeria can send a clear message to political leaders who seem to have become detached and insensitive to the welfare, needs and the realities of the common people.
Every Nigerian has the right to a decent life in their own country.
Every intelligent and able Nigerian has the right to attain their dreams and enjoy good prosperity in their own country.
Every Nigerian has the right to protest when these other rights are threatened.
God bless Nigeria.
Till next time, I wish you Godspeed.
- A Concerned Nigerian.
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