[TRENDING VIDEO] Mixed reactions trail Falz’s response to counter-protesters at Lagos insecurity rally

Social media has been buzzing as to a viral video of rapper and activist Falz reacting to a group of counter-protesters who appeared at a rally against insecurity in Lagos. On Nigeria’s Democracy Day, June 12, a coalition led by lawyer Femi Falana organized the march to protest rampant insecurity, recurring school abductions, and the prevailing economic hardships facing the nation.

The situation grew tense when a group identifying as Team Nigeria supporters arrived at the scene. This group began playing music and chanting in support of President Bola Tinubu, creating a direct confrontation with the initial protesters. Law enforcement officers were present and managed to separate the two factions peacefully, ensuring that no arrests were made during the incident.

Following the event, Falz shared his disbelief in a viral video, asserting that the counter-protesters were a rented crowd who were paid to disrupt the demonstration. While his claims regarding the nature of the crowd remain unverified by independent sources, the incident sparked a heated debate regarding democratic rights and civil unrest. Amidst the chaos, Femi Falana maintained that the events highlighted that Nigeria is currently functioning under civil rule rather than a true, functioning democracy.

Click the link to watch the video. 

Here are some of the reactions as seen on X:

Bayo Bilisi (Back Up) (@Ba…): That’s the beauty of democracy. There’s no monopoly to protests. The Falana family should know better as lawyers. Thanks for your attention.

$ISTALIANO 🇳🇬🌸 (@Sistali…): Foolishness is when people forget what democracy actually means. This is democracy. Whether you like it or not. Freedom to support who you want. Freedom to protest what you don’t agree with. That is the whole essence of it. So you choose to protest against the Federal Government? Fine. It is your right. Others choose to stage a pro government rally? That too is their right. So what exactly is the problem? Why the unnecessary tears and selective outrage? Some of you still haven’t gotten the memo. You see this Tinubu’s mandate, en, we will defend it with every fibre of our beings.

Adeniji Adedayo Solomon (@Adeniji…): You just nailed it. We’ll defend Tinubu mandate to the last point.

Mazi.NnaEmeka🇳🇬 (@Emmy…): Falz should just keep quiet pls! Does he think they are the only ones who have the right to host anti-govt protests, while others who want to host pro-govt protests have no right to do so? Are we not in a democracy? What is all this emotional blackmail about? It is foolish of him to think that others are rented protesters while their own protests are genuine just because they are calling out the govt.

Sundayikale (@sundayikale): Next time get their names and addresses, this people are not from the sky they have families. Lost their pictures and talk about how clueless they are so their children can see them, neighbors can know they are living with animals at least we can all get mad together.

A.P.O.C (@AOchiawuto): Yoruba, you are the problem of Nigeria. Is Yoruba President, Fulani vice president, Fulani President, Yoruba vice president. Yoruba, You’re the one rigging elections for Fulanis, helping them to be conquering your land just to keep Lagos Monopoly alive. Cowards, count me and my family out your Chameleon tribe protest.

Rii (@reeri_choco): Instead of addressing the concerns of the people. The president thinks his power is all encompassing when it comes to oppositions but will not use that power against bandits/ terrorists. Peaceful protests wont do shii, we need to enter the next gear or nothing will change.

Sleemmedia (@SleemMedia): A friend of mine has witnessed the attacks of Bandits.. It’s not something I pray to witness.. There are places where you’ll pass and you’ll perceive the bad odor of people that have being killed by this people.. You’ll see skulls of people on the road. Body parts scattered everywhere. Omo! It’s crazy. Before it gets to your door… Remove this present Administration, let’s see if a change would come. This present Administration is never going to deliver us from this people! We’ll come back here again.. And talk about what we could have done as a people to avert more sufferings on us and our children after the Election come 2027!

madame_esme (@Madameesme): What did you expect? No pushback? You hit the streets again with larger numbers that is how a protest is won. The group with the strongest grievances eventually outnumber & overwhelm the opposition. Even Nazis had staunch supporters. Nothing in life is easy!

Martha Enoma Ezughara (@M…): It is not a news in APC govt, they have allocations for anti-protesters.

1312 (@naijawhichwayna): This is why I could never be in this protests until we’re ready to tell ourselves the truth. This is a matter of life and death and we take it as trivia, if there’s a counter protest against insecurity protesters, then obviously they’re a threat to your life, why not go after dem.

MUTUBOSS💪💪💪 (@iam_y…): Was he paid to protest too? why are all these celebrities so shallow.

Mazi (@Mazi_Clem): Poverty is a disease and poverty mentality is a pandemic. Nigeria is currently suffering from the pandemic of poverty mentality where people attack their sympathisers to please the slave master over meagre 5k.

oladele fameso (@fames…): He sounds unintelligent sometimes. For instance, he said the counter protesters were rented. That may not be a fact and an educated person shouldn’t be sounding like VDM. Unless he is saying that they were paid to protest too…. People are allowed to make choices and shouldn’t be castigated.

Julius J. Adebayo (@HeIsJa…): To Falz and his family, they are the only one with the inalienable rights to protest.

Bethel (@bethelblaq): Majority are yologba.

ASABE😊❤️ (@Nursekaosy): Hmmmmmm We’re in for a long time in this country Audhubillah min dhalik.

For the Truth (@BBnaija2020N): The idea that Nigerians are so poor so they take a dollar to show up for these government gigs is wild to me. How much is your life worth? At what point do you say no, I want better for myself. Tueh