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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Tensions escalated in Nasarawa as an army vehicle, carrying armed soldiers, forcefully ran through a group of protesters, injuring three individuals.
The chaotic incident occurred during a demonstration that began at the city gate of Welcome to Lafia around 11:30 am on Tuesday morning. As the protest moved towards the Stadium Junction, a few kilometers from the PDP Secretariat, the army vehicle plowed into the crowd.
Keffas Tigga, the convener of the protest movement, expressed dismay over the military’s actions, highlighting that three elderly women sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital, while others appeared visibly shaken.
Amidst emotions running high, Tigga decried the situation, stating, “What kind of country is this? Nasarawa belongs to all of us, and we must protect this mandate. Our mothers, children, and widows are here, and the military will just appear and run through them.”
Asserting their unwavering resolve, James Alu, the group’s leader, proclaimed they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their cause, vowing to continue the protest until justice prevailed, even if it meant risking their lives.
In a solemn tone, Gambo Baba a widow among the protesters, lamented the treatment they faced, stating, “They are beating us like kids, and we will not relent. We know who we voted for; it is David Ombugadu, and we want him to be returned back.”
Another protester, Juliana Abimuku a farmer, shared her story of hardship, underscoring Ombugadu’s significance to their lives: “I am a farmer, my children are farmers now, my husband is late, and no one cares about us but Ombugadu is the one that is caring for us now.”
The distressed protesters called on influential figures both locally and globally to intervene. They specifically urged individuals such as Reuben Abate, Husseini Rufai of Arise TV, Seun Akinboloye of Channels TV, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Harris Kamala, Barack Obama, and Prof. Lumumba, among others, to lend their voices and efforts to rescue Nasarawa State from its current predicament.
The scene remains tense in Nasarawa as protesters continue their fervent call for justice, undeterred by the recent violent encounter with the military, continued with the protest, pleading for assistance and support from influential figures to aid their cause for electoral justice and protection of democratic rights.
