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| Nigerians protesting against hate speech bill |
Following the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNowMovement by the Department of State Services DSS despite fulfilling his bail terms, angry Nigerians have stormed the National Assembly in Abuja demanding for the immediate release of the human rights activist and Olawale Bakare.
The protesters are also demanding the rejection of the anti-social media bill by the National Assembly.
They described the bills as a grievous infringement on the constitutional right to free speech.
The protesters noted that the Senate was aiding and abetting full-grown dictatorship in the country by proposing death penalty for offenders.
According to Convener of the demonstration, Deji Adeyanju, the new law was unnecessary, adding that Section 24 of Cybercrime Act 2015 had addressed the issue of fake news and hate speech.
Armed policemen have been stationed at strategic locations within the National Assembly complex.
The protesters vowed not to allow any vehicular and human movement in and out of the complex.
The bill, which was sponsored by Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sabi Abdullahi, among other penalties seeks death for those the government deems guilty of hate speech.
