Follow Us on Google
By Desmond Mgboh, Tony John, Noah Ebije, Abel Leonard, Layi Olanrewaju, Jude Chinedu, John Adams, Olanrewaju Lawal, Agaju Madugba, Priscilla Ediare, Isaac Job, Jude Dangwam, Scholastica Hir, Laide Raheem
The 10-day nationwide protest tagged End Bad Governance, came in different ways across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. While the first day was a total shutdown in most of the country, characterized by violence, looting and mass arrest of protesters by security agents, the second day witnessed a gradual return to normal life in many places.
Abuja
The hunger protest gained momentum yesterday as thousands of Nigerians converged on different streets of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, to register their displeasure over the state of the nation.
Areas such as the Berger Roundabout in Wuse Zone 6, the Moshood Abiola International Stadium and the Eagle Square, had a plethora of protesters, as early as 9:06 a.m. The demonstration was emboldened with the presence of Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as Very Dark Man; an activist, Deji Adeyanju, and Barr. Kingdom Okere, among others.
The demonstrators chanted slogans such as; “End Bad Government” and “Bring back Subsidy”, “We are hungry” and “Tinubu, where is the change?”
The protesters who attempted to converge around 9:08 a.m. on the Eagle Square were dispersed by security personnel with teargas, gunshots, and directed to the M.K.O.Abiola Stadium.
Public servants stayed off the Federal Secretariat as most government-owned premises were locked.
Kaduna
The protest turned violent in Kaduna on Thursday as some people capitalized on the situation to loot and vandalise valuables.
The road leading to the Government House in the state was barricaded by heavily armed police men to forestall an attempted attack on the seat of power in the state.
No fewer than 25 people suspected to be hoodlums were arrested by the police.
A Kaduna based trader, Mrs. Chinozo Obi wept profusely as protesters looted her shop, attached to her house along Sokoto road within the metropolis.
A combined team of policemen, Civil Defence and members of the state vigilance service mounted a barricade along the Government House road to prevent hoodlums from gaining access to the general area as well as other surrounding communities.
Kano
The protest turned violent in Kano on Thursday, resulting in a 24-hour curfew being declared by the state government.
Although the second day of the protest was relatively peaceful, a total of 326 suspects were arrested by the state police command following the violence that erupted in some parts of the state during the protest.
The police disclosed that the arrested persons consisted of young, matured and even female suspects while urging parents and guardians in the state to help return items suspected to have been stolen by their wards. The police also disclosed that it seized a large quantity of stolen items during the protest adding that all the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after investigation.
Nasarawa
Hundreds of protesters blocked the Keffi-Abuja highway, preventing motorists from entering or leaving the city. The demonstrators burnt tyres, threatened, non-compliant motorists, and demanded the reinstatement of the fuel subsidy as well as action on the hunger crisis.
The state police command said it arrested and detained 65 protesters for allegedly attacking police personnel and causing disorder. Of this number, 25 were apprehended in Lafia, 16 in Karu, six in Keffi, and three in Mararaba-Udege.
Kwara
Residents of Kwara State on Thursday and Friday shunned the nationwide protest against widespread economic hardship in the country. Normal business activities came to a standstill in parts of Ilorin, the state capital, as shop owners shut down their stores.
Although financial institutions closed their shops, but government offices like courts and ministries were seen going about their duties unhindered.
Enugu
On Thursday, the majority of residents of Enugu State remained indoors while the nationwide protests lasted in other states, leading to a total collapse of economic and social activities.
Markets, banks, malls and petrol stations were shut while major roads were deserted. However, a pocket of protesters led by the convener, Office of the Citizen, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Onyebuchi Igboke were seen with placards while chanting anti-government songs. They marched from Naira Triangle through New Haven, Ogui Road, Presidential Road and terminated at Okpara square. Other parts of the city like Abakpa were buzzing with commercial activities, as traders went about their businesses peacefully.
Niger
The protesters on Thursday abandoned Minna, the Niger State capital due to the heavy security presence and took over the headquarters of some local government areas to register their frustration.
While the security agents directed their entire energy to protect the state capital, hell was let loose in Suleja, the headquarters of Suleja and Tafa local government areas as the protests turned violent when the youths engaged the police in fierce battle.
In Suleja, six youths were reportedly shot dead by the police while over 15 sustained various degrees of bullet wounds after the police opened fire on them, claiming that the protesters were hauling stones and other dangerous weapons at them. From Suleja, the battle shifted to the neighboring Sabon Wise, the headquarters of Tafa local government area where the protesting youths vandalized the local government secretariat before setting it ablaze.
Unspecified number of the youths were injured while no fewer than 11 of them were arrested by the police in the area.
Kebbi
Protesters in Kebbi deserted the roads on the second day of the protest unlike the first day when youths stormed some streets. The protests were scattered and restricted to uncrowded areas in part of Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, Yauri town, Argungu and other parts of the state. On the second day, (Friday), there was no sign of any protesters in Birnin Kebbi metropolis and other parts of the state.
In his live broadcast on Friday morning, Governor of Kebbi State,Dr. Nasir Idris appealed to the protesters to halt their protest.
Katsina
The Katsina State government imposed a 24-hour curfew in Dutsinma Local Government Area and 7pm to 7am restriction of movement in the remaining 33 Local Government Areas of the state.
“The 24-hour curfew in Dutsinma Local Government Area is necessary to ensure public safety and prevent further escalation of violence, vandalism, and looting of public and private properties, while the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew in the rest of the state is aimed at preventing nocturnal criminal activities and maintaining law and order throughout the state,” the police said.
Ebonyi
The nationwide protest over the hardship across the country had no tangible effect in Ebonyi State as it entered Day 2 on Friday.
Though banks, shops, major markets and filling stations in the state didn’t open for business on the first day of the protest with major roads and streets deserted, normal activities resumed on the second.
Rivers
The protest in Rivers State was largely peaceful. However, in some parts of Port Harcourt City and Ikwerre Local Government Areas, some persons restricted vehicular movements. The state Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, noted some persons brandishing sticks and banging on people’s vehicles. He frowned at the conduct of some persons particularly along NTA Road, Pleasure Park, Igwuruta-ali, and Airport Road. He also commended officers of the Rivers State Police Command for their professionalism in managing the situation.
He cautioned the protesters to conduct themselves peacefully and desist from infringing on the rights of others.
On the second day (Friday) of the protest, the protesters and operatives of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the NPF, had a disagreement along Aba road in the state capital. The security agencies had asked that aggrieved youths to leave the road, but they refused, chanting “How many people the government go kill?”
Ekiti
As the nationwide hunger protests began August 1 across the country, residents of Ekiti State did not join in the demonstration. The popular Fajuyi Park, in Ado- Ekiti, the capital of the state, which is the usual convergence ground for such actions, had no single protester, except heavy security presence in the area.
Akwa Ibom
Contrary to social media and the official position of no protest in Akwa Ibom State by the state government, reports indicate that youths in the state joined the nationwide protest against bad governance.
In Uyo Akwa Ibom State capital, some youths gathered on Friday at the popular Ibom plaza at the junction leading to the Hilltop Mansion chanting songs and addressed other youths on the need for all to join them in the ten day protest.
The youths carried placards with some inscriptions such as : “ We need Refineries, “ Increase Army/Police Welfare, “ We say no to insecurity, “ Give our girls jobs not Hookup”, “ Reduce fuel price to N100 per litre and “ The more you build hotels, more you encourage prostitution” among others . The protesters who flooded the Ibom plaza circus with their public address system said they will remain at the venue in the next nine days till bad governance in Nigeria is completely banished to give way to a new government that will listen to the yearnings of the people.
Oyo
Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday witnessed a return of bustling business and social activities as the #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria entered its second day.
A tour of the city on Thursday and Friday showed that many people stayed back at home on the first day of the protest, and having observed that there was no violence, they went out en masse to engage in their business activities, including roadside traders, market women and men, eateries, supermarkets, transporters, and vulcanisers.
Plateau
Muslim protesters observed Juma’at prayers at the protest ground on Friday in Jos, the state capital. The protest witnessed a massive turnout of protesters under a peaceful atmosphere at the Old Airport Junction with security agents in their numbers to give the needed protection to protesters and ensure the protest was not hijacked by criminal elements.
The protest ground was filled to its brim with the two leaders, Prophet Isa El-Buba and Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung in attendance.
Benue
The Ends Bad Governance In Nigeria protest which commenced August 1, 2024, did not hold in Benue state as residents shunned the event and went about their normal businesses.
Recall that last Sunday, July 28, 2024, the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, had met with the top hierarchy of security agencies in the state as well as the labour unions, youths, market men and women and other pressure groups and appealed to them not to join the protest but to bring forth their grievances for Government to address them.
The fear was that the protest may be hijacked by miscreants to wreak havoc on innocent citizens.
Ogun
The #Endbadgovernance on Thursday, witnessed protesters numbering about 20 converge in front of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, chanting anti-government slogans. They were also armed with placards bearing various messages to drive home their grievances.
Some of the placards read “End bad governance in Nigeria, “We are after peace and progress of Nigeria, “Food inflation is killing us, “Dapo Abiodun fix Ogun State roads” among others.
On the second day, no protesters were sighted in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Banks, shops and other businesses that were initially shut on Thursday’s morning are fully open on Friday.
