Nationwide protest more pronounced in Northern Nigeria

The proposed 10-day nationwide protest against bad governance in Nigeria was on Thursday August 1, 2024 kick-started across the country, with different records of experiences in states of the federation, which include violence, bloody and peaceful in some towns, but was more pronounced in Northern part of the country.

Penpushing reports that violence was more pronounced in the northern parts of the country as hoodlums vandalised the offices of the Kaduna State Traffic and Law Environmental Authority (KASTLEA) and the Investment Promotions Agency (KADIPA)

The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incidents adding that the protesters also burnt an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and looted many shops, adding that as at the time of filing this report 23 suspects have been detained.

Penpushing further reports that Hassan said the protesters tried to invade Government House but were prevented; adding that many of security personnel sustained injuries, and they are receiving treatment at various hospitals

The police spokesperson who appealed for calm, urged restraint by the residents, however, denied that operatives used live ammunition, saying that they only fired teargas, just as sources explained that in some cases, the violence was caused by the actions of security officials.

Penpushing also reports there were similar pocket of violence in major cities such as Kano, Gombe, and Abuja, aside from the conduct of some policemen said to had trigger violence, it was equally gathered that actions of some overzealous protesters or counter-protesters were factors

The protesters in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) started peacefully moving towards the three Arms Zones where the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the Aso Villa are located but were tear-gassed in a bid to disperse them and prevent them from accessing the area.

Penpushing reports that protesters at the entrance of the MKO Abiola stadium were earlier told by the police to go inside the stadium, but refused and instead commenced a march towards Eagle Square, close to the Three Arms Zone.

The Armoured Personnel Carriers conveying soldiers and police operatives were deployed to prevent the protesters from entering the zones, which became chaotic, as the protesters regrouped around the Ministry of Finance, blocking Ahmadu Bello Way and pushing back towards the police.

Penpushing further reports that following the chaotic situation many people were injured, and police specifically targeted journalists and arrested at least two of them, and seized their mobile phones after beating.

The protest in Kano also turned violent after some protesters took to the streets with dangerous weapons, and at about 10:15 a.m., invaded a popular Rufaidah Yoghurt store in Hadejia Road, Kano, and went on a looting spree.

Penpushing also reports that the protesters looted a yet to be commissioned industrial park belonging to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), and similar vein, the peaceful protests in Gombe took a dramatic turn as clashes erupted, leading to a chaotic scene that required the intervention of security officials.

The protesters in Osun State converged at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, the capital of the state amid tight security as there was a visible presence of security personnel from the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Army at strategic locations.

Penpushing reports that the locations manned by the security agencies include Olaiya Junction, Awosuru Junction, Okefia and Lameco roundabouts, Orita Gbeemu, Gbodofon, Ajegunle and Ayetoro, and Stadium Roundabout.

The organisers of the protest at the Freedom Park point of convergence, were seen educating fellow protesters on the modalities of the protest, as a civil servant who preferred anonymity, said the state secretariat was not under lock.

“I will be in the office in an hour. We were not directed to stay off work so I will have to be in the office. As I am talking to you, I am in town. I have passed through Olaiya Junction down to Ogo-Oluwa and there is vehicular movement’, he stated

Penpushing also reports that, some markets, which include Akindeko, were scantily open for business with few buyers patronising them, while street businesses were opened, and the protests did not disrupt vehicular movement, as major roads in the state capital were busy.

The Osun State Commissioner of Police Mohammed Umar Abba had stated that security arrangements had been placed to ensure no breakdown of law and order during the protest, explaining that security agencies in the state embarked on a show of force to demonstrate that they were on top of the situation.

“The Operation Show of Force which comprises personnel drawn from all the security agencies in the state is to inform members of the public about the readiness of the security agencies in the state ahead of the protest’, he said.

‘The Operation Show of Force is being coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, DCP Abayomi Shogunle. The operations cut across all the Area Commands in the state’, he added

Penpushing reports that the police boss, however, assured the general public that the command would not leave any stone unturned to ensure the proposed protest was peaceful and warned that individuals who went against the rules of engagement would be decisively dealt with within the ambit of the extant law.

The protest in Ogun State recorded a low turnout of protesters in Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode towns of the State, as residents were seeing going about their normal businesses, while banks in the Abeokuta metropolis were under lock and key.

Penpushing further reports that the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, venue designated for the protest was empty, with a heavy presence of security operatives, including the Police, Nigeria Army and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

There is also a detachment of soldiers in strategic locations across the state capital to forestall the breakdown of law and order, and at 11:20 am, about 20 protesters arrived at the stadium, chanting anti-government slogans.

Penpushing reports that the protesters were armed with placards bearing various messages to drive home their grievances which reads, “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.

“We have right to protest against whatever is not in the interest of Nigerians and the truth is that people are suffering, people are hungry, our leaders should not turn the country to a palliatives country, that is what we are saying’, a protester said

‘The President never promised to impose this great hardship on Nigerians, our leaders can’t continue to carry on as if all is well, we are suffering and this is becoming too much. The policies of the government must be tailored in such a way that life would be made easier for all whether you are educated or not”, he added

Penpushing further reports that the protesters arrived the stadium shortly after the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu and the Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, David Ojelabi left, but they(protesters) did not enter the stadium.

The protesters were seen walking up and down the front of the stadium to pass across their messages and were monitored by the security agencies who had been deployed to the venue since morning, and thereafter moved to some major parts of the town.

Penpushing also reports that in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital two different groups took to the street in peaceful protest across major parts of the town, while one group was a coalition of various interest bodies under the aegis of “Oyo State Coalition Against Hardship”, the other group operated under the name “Take it Back Movement”.

The protests, however, recorded a large number of participants who carried placards and sang solidarity songs as they marched to different parts of the capital city, and clearly stating their demands to the government.

Penpushing reports that the groups explained that they didn’t organise the protest against any particular individual but against hardship in the land and what they described as bad governance which is bringing untold pain and hardship to the citizens.

The groups which enjoyed security protection as patrol vans of combined security operatives, however, vowed not to back down in their agitations until their demands are met while also asking for a total overhaul of the 1999 constitution, a reversal of the fuel subsidy policy to make life easy for citizens

Penpushing further reports that in Kwara State major roads were deserted in Ilorin, the state capital as both commercial and private vehicles were off the road, while there was heavy security presence at government facilities, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, courts, and the government secretariat,

The findings showed that major commercial areas which include:  General Post Office, Challenge, Murtala Mohammed Road, Maraba, Taiwo, Agaka, and Oja Oba, were securely locked as traders did not open their stores, but it was also observed that few petrol stations were selling fuel to motorists in the town.

Penpushing also reports that security agencies, including the Police, Civil Defence Corps, Immigration Services, Customs, and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were stationed in strategic locations, including the Post Office and Challenge, while an armoured personnel vehicle was stationed at the Kwara State Government House.

The protesters in Lagos State as early as 8am converged on Ikeja underbridge where they moved to Ojota and some other parts of the town, and were seen chanting solidarity songs and holding placards calling for better governance.

Penpushing reports that there were scanty vehicles on the roads like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Alausa routes, but the protesters in their hundreds marched round under amid tight security presence of the police, civil defence and other security operatives.

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