#SocialMediaBill: Nigerians protest at the National Assembly demanding Senators shut down the bill (Photos)

Some Nigerians are currently protesting at the National Assembly in Abuja against the continued detention of the human rights activists, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare.

The protesters are also demanding the rejection of the anti-social media bill by the National Assembly, describing the bill 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 the 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.

According to reports, 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.