The hunger protest in Nigeria has continued on the second day, howbeit with lower turnout of people compared with yesterday, but security forces have become unfriendlier.
The Nigerian Economy is monitoring the activities of the protesters across the country, where the protests appear to have narrowed down to major cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
ABUJA
Police disrupts protest
In Abuja, the number of protesters have reduced from that of yesterday, just as the venues of protest have narrowed down.
At the Eagle Square, as at 10 a.m only a handful of protesters have arrived, even as theres heavy presence of security personnel.
At the popular Julius Berger Roundabout, a fair number of protesters have gathered, but the police dispersed them. The police fired several canisters of teargas to disperse protesters.
In Lugbe, the roads and streets are deserted after yesterdah’s horror. The area was bad yesterday with casualties recorded, but today, the place is deserted.
NORTH– Curfew is the answer; Taraba Gov goes to the people
In the northern part of the country, the protests seemed to have slowed down. The protest was heavy in the north yesterday, making the area the worst hit after hoodlums hijacked the protest to loot, rob people and burnt properties.
This made some states in the north to enforce curfew. States that have enforced curfew in the north are Kano, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states, where 23 people were reported killed yesterday.
Meanwhile, reacting to the protest in the north, a security consultant, Group Capt Sadeeq Shehu (rtd) said in areas where social economic indices are lowest, there is a tendency that protesters will loot and become violent.
“Organizers were able to get the buy in of all Nigerians because of the current economic reality. This cannot be compared with #Endsars protest where we observed external support, but that is not the same now with the current protest,” Shehu said.
In Taraba, Governor Keffas addressed protesters assuring them that he is one of them and would not take any decision to hurt his people.
“I have come to identify with you. Indeed, there is hunger in the land and I know, but we are working to make sure that everything is alright in no time,” he said.
LAGOS
Protesters occupy Ojota
Tension began to mount at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota after the protesters refused to stay inside the park. The protesters expressed fears that being contained inside the park would compromise their safety.
Earlier, the place was rowdy after some anti-protesters groups threatened to disrupt the #EndBadGovernmentinNigeria protest.
The Commissioner for Information and Startegy, Gbenga Omotosho was at the freedom park this morning. Speaking with journalists, the commissioner said the governor was addressing the grievances of Lagos residents. He dispelled rumors of Oro, using touts to disrupt the protest or using curfew to restrict movement in Lagos.
“The Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been engaging everybody even before the protest started. He had made good promises and will implement everything he has said. People should go home and see the good and people-oriented policies the governor would implement right away.”
He said Lagos cannot allow the sort of protest that would lead to losses just as the ##EndSars protest in the state.
“Lagos residents are discerning and understanding people. We’ve all agreed that there would be no chaos, no violence and no losses. The governor has said so many things and he would do all that he has promised,” Omotosho said
However, the protesters insisted that they would not go inside the park. The presence of the protesters has cause traffic gridlock on the Ikorodu Road, giving the security personnel a tough one to control.
Elsehwere in Lagos, people went about their business. At Ojodu-Berger, people move around peacefully.
The Island part of the state was calm and peaceful with only a few people seen on the roads, which has a heavy presence of police personnel. In Marina, Lagos business districts and Victoria Island, only a few movements were seen.
The Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade later visited the freedom park and maintained that his officers and himself would be on ground to make sure that the protest doesn’t go out of hand.
SOUTH-EAST— Still out of it
In the south-eastern part of the country, the Igbos have remained out of the protest.
While most people remain indoors, the few people outside were just going about their businesses.
In Owerri, Imo State, a few people were seen on the roads and the streets going about their businesses peacefully. Some shops were seen open for business. There are no protests anywhere.
In Anambra State, the Alex Ekweme Square remains the rendezvous for protests, rallies and activities requiring a large number of people, but this morning, people were only doing their normal walkout and physical health exercises at the square.
In Abia State, Governor Alex Otti made a television broadcast where he cautioned his people against embracing chaos and lawlessness.
“The new Abia is your baby and must be protected. It took so much sacrifice and investments to arrive at our present state in Abia,” he said during the broadcast.
PORT HARCOURT
Police commissioner is “friendly”
In Port Harcourt, protesters continue today, occupying the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. Heavy presence of policemen were seen on the same road.
However, in other parts of Port Harcourt, the city is busy with people doing their businesses as usual.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olatunji Disu addresses protesters at Pleasure Park, Port Harcourt, where he admonished them to remain peaceful in their protest. He urged them to also steer clear of the road in order not to cause traffic gridlock.
After his address some of the protesters asked, “is he friendly?” , other protesters answered, “yes he is!”
However, in other parts of Port Harcourt, people went about their businesses peacefully. The city is business with major business areas back in their former self.
