by Nurat Uthman
The Take It Back Movement has proposed a virtual meeting with the Lagos State Police Command, citing logistical difficulties for an in-person meeting.
The proposal was outlined in a letter sent to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Intelligence Department, Jaiyeoba Joseph, by the legal representatives of the group, Inibehe Effiong Chambers on Wednesday.
The police had in a Tuesday letter invited key members of the TIB, including its National Coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon, to meet with the new Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, to discuss “issues of national interests.”
Sources within the organisation who spoke anonymously expressed concerns that a physical meeting could be a ploy to arrest them.
However, the state police public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the invitation on Tuesday, stressing that the meeting would be friendly, and that the police had no intention of arresting anyone.
The police also confirmed that the planned October protest would be part of the discussion.
Meanwhile, according to the letter from the movement’s solicitors, it was stated that several executive members were outside Lagos and could not travel down for a physical meeting.
“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, stated.
The TIB, therefore, proposed a virtual meeting as a more convenient alternative.
“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 offered to reschedule the meeting if a physical presence was essential, suggesting early October as a possible time when all team members would be available.
The protest, set for October 1, 2024, and tagged ‘FearlessInOctober’ is expected to, among other issues, address the economic hardship in the country, especially as Nigerians battle inflation and the scarcity of fuel.
