Omoyele Sowore, one of the leaders and prominent figures behind the #FearlessInOctober protest, has presented a series of significant demands from the protesters to the federal government. In his statements, Sowore highlighted that the protesters are pushing for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests, which occurred two months ago, as well as those still being held in connection to the #EndSARS protests, which initially erupted in 2020.
Addressing a crowd of journalists during the protest in Lagos on Tuesday, Sowore stressed that these demands were urgent and needed to be addressed by the government before the end of the day (Tuesday). He noted that any failure by the federal government to act upon these demands would prompt the organizers to unveil their next course of action, which could escalate their ongoing protest efforts.
He also stated that they are specifically calling for the release of the detainees across several states, including Kaduna, Abuja, Katsina, and Kano, where individuals were arrested either for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests or the earlier #EndSARS protests.
“Our message to the Federal Government is very clear,” Sowore said. “We are asking them to release every protester who has been unjustly detained. Whether they are in detention in Kaduna, Abuja, Katsina, Kano, or anywhere else, we demand their immediate release by the end of today. If the Federal Government does not comply, we will reveal the next steps in our struggle,” Sowore explained, reiterating the group's position on the issue.
In addition to calling for the release of detained protesters, Sowore expressed that the #FearlessInOctober protest is not only about the detained individuals but is part of a broader struggle for a new form of independence. He argued that the independence Nigeria achieved in 1960 from its colonial rulers was now irrelevant, as the nation had fallen into the hands of corrupt and exploitative elites.
According to Sowore, the protesters are engaged in a fight for the emancipation of ordinary Nigerians from the grips of corrupt politicians, cabals, and elites who have plundered the nation’s resources and made life unbearable for the common citizens.
“This protest is not just about the past arrests; it is about a larger movement for liberation,” he stated. “We are struggling for a new kind of independence—an independence for the Nigerian people, for the ordinary citizens, against the corrupt elite who have looted our resources, particularly those involved in the oil sector and other areas of our economy.”
Sowore also made references to the 2019 Revolution Now movement, of which he was a key figure, suggesting that the #FearlessInOctober protest was a continuation of that struggle for systemic change in the country. “Our independence begins now. The independence we got in 1960 was from colonial masters, but now we are struggling to free ourselves from the corrupt ruling class. This movement is a continuation of the Revolution Now campaign we started in 2019 because we believe only a revolution can save this country from collapse,” he said, outlining the motivations behind the fresh wave of protests.