Our reporter / Nigerians on Thursday poured into the streets in major cities across the nation to protest against economic hardship despite the government’s last-minute push to prevent the demonstration.
Authorities across the country had in the wake of calls for the protest rallied around to halt it. They warned that they might be hijacked by criminals. While they admitted to the challenges facing the nation, they urged the organisers to shelve the protest and give the government more time to address the issues raised.
But undeterred, the Take It Back Movement, one of the organisers of the protest said it was not going back on the rallies. Some of the demands of the protesters include the restoration of petrol subsidies and the forex regime. They also want the government to address food shortages, unemployment, and wasteful spending by those in power. Other are immediate reforms of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with renewed vigour in the fight against corrupt politicians.
-Lagos Protesters Hold Street Procession Despite Court Order
Despite a court order restraining the #Endbadgovernance protests in Lagos to specific venues, the demonstrators still held street processions in the nation’s commercial capital.
A Lagos High Court had on Wednesday granted an exparte application filed by the State’s Attorney General Lawal Pedro (SAN), seeking to restrict the nationwide protest, in Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare granted the order of pre-emptive remedy by way of an interim injunction to restrict the defendants from converging and carrying out the proposed protests in Lagos from Aug 1-10th except in the two approved locations from 8 am to 6 pm.
But the defiant protesters on Thursday marched through Alausa to Ojota, singing solidarity songs and drawing the attention of the government to the plight of the citizens.
They branded placards with several inscriptions like ‘Reverse electricity tariff now,’ ‘Stop corporate capture,’ ‘We need new mass workers party to change Nigeria,’ and ‘This hunger is too much,’ among others.
Briefing journalists in Alausa, the demonstrators decried the hunger and economic situation in the country.
On the ground to receive them was the Divisional Police Officer of Alausa, Tokunbo Abaniwonda, who asked them to go to Gani Fawehinmi Park to air their grievances as Alausa is not the designated location.
Protesters also stormed the Lekki Toll Gate carrying placards with different messages. They, were, however, informed of a court order restricting their gathering to Alausa. But the few who gathered rejected relocating to Alausa and continued their protest.
But they were dispersed after the police fired teargas at them.
-Hoodlums Loot Properties, Storm Katsina Govt House
The #EndBadGovernance protests in Katsina State turned violent on Thursday as some hoodlums looted properties.
Several persons were said to have died after some miscreants reportedly hijacked the protest, looting various shops and vandalising property belonging to the residents.
This happened before the protesters arrived at the destination of their planned demonstrations.
Some security personnel were forced to fire several gunshots at the protesting youths to maintain law and order which in turn, dispersed the aggrieved protesters.
Some of the victims including police officers and a DPO, were given various medical treatments at a clinic the Katsina State Government House.
-Kano Govt Declares Curfew After Looting Of Park
The newly built Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park in Kano has been looted by hoodlums amidst a wave of nationwide protests against economic hardship. The ICT centre, scheduled for commissioning next week, was also set ablaze during the unrest.
In response to the escalating violence, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has declared a 24-hour curfew across the state.
“We are deeply concerned by the turn of events and are taking all necessary measures to restore order. I urge all residents to remain indoors as security agencies work to enforce the curfew,” he stated.
-Seven Buses Burnt In Yobe, Curfew Imposed In Three LGAs
Seven mass transit buses were burnt in Potiskum, the headquarters of Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State on Monday amid the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests.
The buses were set ablaze on the premises of the local government secretariat in Potiskum on Thursday.
According to eyewitness accounts, the North-East state that some persons came in their numbers to cause mayhem but were quickly prevented by the security personnel.
The Spokesman for the Yobe State Police Command, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident at Potiskum, saying the perpetrators will be brought to book.
Propagated on social media, the nationwide protests against economic hardship started on Thursday, August 1, 2024, and is scheduled to stretch till August 10 across all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital Abuja.
Meanwhile, the state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru towns where some hoodlums are taking advantage of the protest to vandalise, loot government and private properties.
Dairy Abdulsalam, the Special Adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters, urged the general public to abide by the curfew order and stay at home for peace to reign in the affevy areas and the state at large.
According to him, the security agencies have been directed to ensure enforcement and full compliance of the curfew order.
-Police Impose Curfew In Borno As Security Operatives Disperse Protesters In Zamfara
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in collaboration with other security agencies, have imposed a 24-hour curfew in Borno State following a recent tragic incident.
The announcement comes in response to the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kawori, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people and left several others critically injured. The decision was taken to prevent further unrest and maintain public order in the state.
In a press release, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, the Police Public Relations Officer for Borno State, conveyed the directive from Governor Babagana Umar Zulum.
The statement emphasized the state’s commitment to preserving law and order, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action.
“In line with our constitutional mandate towards the restoration of law and order, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum, in consultation with heads of security in the state, finds it expedient to declare a 24-hour curfew in the state with immediate effect,” the statement read.
According to the authorities, the curfew aims to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of the residents. The people of Borno have been urged to remain calm and law-abiding, even as the security operatives say that the situation is under control and that any further developments will be communicated promptly.
The curfew restricts movement throughout the state, and security forces have been deployed to enforce the order strictly.
Simultaneously, in Zamfara State, joint security forces comprising the Nigerian Police and the Army intervened to disperse protesters in the capital, Gusau.
The demonstrators had reportedly mounted a roadblock along the Government House, protesting against various grievances, including perceived government inaction on issues of insecurity and governance.
The situation escalated when the protesters refused to disperse despite warnings from the authorities. In response, the police said it used teargas to break up the gathering, while the army deployed an armored vehicle to restore order.
The security forces say they successfully cleared the area, and normalcy has since been restored.
As the situation continues to develop, both in Borno and Zamfara, the authorities say they remain vigilant and ready to respond to any incidents that may arise. The public is encouraged to stay informed through official channels and comply with all directives from law enforcement agencies.
-CSO Slams Police For Tear-Gassing Protesters, Says Three Fainted In Abuja
Organised Civil Society on Thursday knocked the Nigeria Police Force for tear-gassing “defenceless protesters” in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Bauchi, and other states in the country.
In a statement, the United Action Front of Civil Society said three peaceful protesters tear-gassed by the police fainted in Abuja with many others injured.
The CSO leader Olawale Okunniyi alleged that pro-government protesters forced anti-hunger protesters out of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, the venue designated by the government.
“The anti-hunger protesters sensing danger and possible violent clash, decided to quietly move in peaceful procession to the Eagle Square, where they had earlier designated to hold their peaceful protest.
“On getting to the Eagle Square, security agents swooped on them and unleashed mayhem on peaceful [rotesters with tear gas canisters, injuring several unarmed and defenceless protesters with three protesters reported to have fainted.”
The group strongly condemned the “resort to violence by the police in Abuja, Lekki, Kaduna and other centres in the country contrary to the assurances given to us by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun during our consultative meeting with him on Tuesday”.
“We find this show of force and reckless use of force unacceptable and barbaric and therefore call on the IGP to immediately call his men to order before the situation degenerates beyond control,” the statement said.
Propagated on social media, the nationwide protests against economic hardship, tagged #EndBadGovernance, started on Thursday, August 1, 2024, and is scheduled to stretch till August 10 across all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital Abuja.
Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.
With Channels Television report
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