By Ibidapo Olowolayemo, Ibadan
and Funso Alarape
Thursday August 1, 2024
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As the much-touted protest started piecemeal in some parts of the country, reports from some Southern states of the country have indicated that merely pockets of citizens took part in the activity.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, our reporter observed that few youths gathered at Challenge area with placards of various inscriptions as early as 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.
But there was heavy presence of policemen to maintain orderliness.
Also, pockets of protesters gathered at University of Ibadan (UI) proceeding towards Agbowo area. The same situation was seen at Sango/Poly road and environs.
However, economic activities were at lowest ebb, as shops and business premises were largely shut down.
The streets were also empty of private cars, save for few commercial transporters and okada riders that plied the roads.
In banks around Iwo Road, Challenge, UI, Mokola, etc. staff were in office, but the offices were not opened to customers.
Reports had it that pro-government protesters gathered in Ikeja, Lagos, chanting choruses against “people wanting to destroy Nigeria.”
A leader of the protesters who did not want his name in print told our reporter that all they wanted was the government to listen to complaints.
“We are using this opportunity to tell government at all levels that enough is enough. Nigerians can no longer survive this economic hardship,” he told journalists at UI area.
However, police authorities, as of the time of filing this report, said they were still monitoring the situation, adding that normalcy was still reigning in Ibadan metropolis.
“There is no breach of the peace yet,” Adewale Osifeso, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) was quoted as saying yesterday.
However, some protesters around University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan were also seen chanting abusive words against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while reports had it that in Ekiti and Akure, residents kept at home for a better part of the day also.
The protest which the organisers had said would be peaceful, turned violent in some Northern states
Miscreants had field day as they set ablaze government buildings and vehicles while some were allegedly gun down by the security agents.
Kano State
Government building burnt, looting, indiscriminate killing
In Kano State, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf
In the face of the unrest arising from the #Endbadgovernance protest in Kano State, has declared a 24-hour curfew in the state with immediate effect.
Governor Yusuf, who announced this while addressing newsmen at the Kano State government house, said the action became imperative to ensure full protection of lives and properties in the state.
He said hoodlums and thugs have hijacked the protest to embark on looting and indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens.
Governor Yusuf said all security agencies were directed to ensure full and immediate compliance.
What began as a demonstration against economic difficulties quickly devolved into chaos as mobs attacked businesses across the city.
The looters were seen ransacking properties, removing valuables such as chairs, computers, and other equipment.
Kaduna State
3 feared killed, many injured
In Kaduna State, no fewer than three youths dead and many other protesters injured.
An eyewitness said the number of protesters, mostly youths and the unemployed, outnumbered the security operatives.
They marched from the Rigasa area, and from the Abakwa end, towards the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the official residence and office of the state governor.
The eyewitness said: “We were matching peacefully and no one was carrying any offensive weapon.
“I think the security operatives near the Government House were threatened by our large number.
“Suddenly, a vehicle that they use in spraying hot water on protesters, came speeding towards us from the Government House axis…” Read the full story HERE.
Video of protest in Kaduna
https://x.com/i/status/1819025235741495701
Zamfara State
Protest in Nigeria: Protesters storm Zamfara govt house, urge end to povertyhttps://t.co/EAU0rTnHAn
Borno State
Protesters demand return of fuel subsidy
Protesters on the streets in Borno pic.twitter.com/03fnk1d5OM
They were mostly youths carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Ba Maso in Hausa’ (‘We no agree’); ‘Tinubu must reserve or bring back fuel subsidy’, ‘We are dying of hunger and insecurity’, ‘Just yesterday 20 people were killed in suicide attack in Kawuri of Konduga LGA’, among others.
The protesters were peaceful, even as some security agencies were waving at them.
It was also observed that little business activities are ongoing in some areas with skeletal services at some filling stations.
Jigawa State
Protesters set APC headquarters in Dutse ablaze
The headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Dutse, Jigawa State was set on fire.
The secretariat was set ablaze during the violence that broke out during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
It was gathered that in Dutse, the state capital, irate young people had broken into the facility, destroying billboards and other promotional materials before setting the structure on fire.
They also torched cars that were parked within the premises.
The mob also attacked the home of the House of Representatives member representing Gumel, Gagarawa and Maigarati, as well as the residence of the APC Zonal Vice Chairman.
Katsina State
In Katsina State, some youths who took to the streets in Katsina metropolis to protest over the economic hardship set a vehicle belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ablaze.
They have also vandalised public properties believed to be worth millions of Naira.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the youths went around various streets in the city after the first group called “Struggle for Good Governance” ended its protests.
The spokesman of the NSCDC Command in Katsina, Buhari Hamisu, said that their vehicle had developed a fault while on patrol and could not move, as such, it was left on the road.
He explained that when the protesters arrived in the area, they set the vehicle ablaze and fled.
The protesters went on a rampage and continued vandalising public properties especially street lights by removing their cables and other accessories.
They also damaged some drainages and culverts in many parts of the metropolis and removed the rods.
Meanwhile, the acting Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Faruq Jobe, said the state has witnessed peaceful protests, but not violent as reported from other states.
Communication Minister laments attack on NCC Industrial Park in Kano
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, has lamented the destruction of a technology hub in Kano, just days before its scheduled launch.
The Digital Innovation Park, designed to support Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator program (3MTT), was reportedly set ablaze and looted during the protests on Thursday.
“Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,” Tijani stated in a post via X on Thursday.
The incident occurred as part of wider unrest in Kano, where protesters targeted the yet-to-be-commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission Industrial Park.
Tijani highlighted the immediate impact of this destruction on planned initiatives.
“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week,” he added.
The minister characterised the damage as a setback for the journey to deepening the workforce for technology and creating job opportunities for the youth.
“Millions of Naira down the drain,” Tijani said.
Niger State
Miscreants burn down Tafa local government area
Protesters yesterday burnt down Tafa local government Secretariat, Sabon Wuse of Niger State along Kaduna- Abuja expressway.
The incident occured around 9:30 am.
Besides setting the Secretariat ablaze, two cars were also burnt down while two others were vandalized and valuables looted in the Secretariat.
The development it was gathered created serious hold up along the ever busy expressway before a combination of security Agencies mobilized to the area and dispersed the miscreants.
Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun who confirmed the development said eleven persons have already been arrested and the Highway now free for traffic.
In a statement, the PPRO said, “some miscreants of Tafa area of Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State and that of Hayin-Diko Gurara LGA of Niger State mobilized and stormed Tafa LGA Secretariat of Niger State located along Abuja-Kaduna expressway, Sabon-Wuse Niger State.
“The hoodlums vandalized the Secretariat, partly set it ablaze, two cars were also burnt and two other others vandalized.
“They further looted valuables there-in while the Police and other security agencies responded to the scene and arrested eleven violent miscreants with different dangerous weapons including firearms as others were dispersed from the scene and some of the looted items were recovered,” he declared.
Wasiu said a combination of security agencies responded to the blockage of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and old toll-gate and the hoodlums were dispersed adding that presently, the expressway has been reopened for motorists and there is free flow of traffic along the highway.
He called on members of the public to go about their lawful duties assuring that safety of their lives and property are guaranteed just as he assured that other fleeing miscreants will be arrested.
On the death of some protesters in Suleja, unconfirmed sources said six people were shot in an attempt to burn down Police “A” Division in the town just as Police kept mute over the issue.
Abuja
Major Abuja road under control of protesters as security operatives struggle to dislodge
Zubwa-Kubwa expressway, one of the major roads in Nigeria’s capital city, is currently under the control of protesters, Daily Trust can report.
The protesters who blocked different sections of the road only granted access to vehicles with leaves.
As strategic as it is, the expressway is the one which leads to the Presidential Villa when coming from neighbouring Niger and Kaduna States.
Security forces have been dispersing the protesters for hours but they have been regrouping, making the journey tough for road users.
Borno State
Four gunned down at Borno filling station
As of 4pm, our correspondent who has been monitoring the protest across the city counted at least seven roadblocks mounted by young persons in a distance of about two kilometres.
Both human and vehicular movements were restricted by the youths, who apparently identify leaves as a symbol of peace.
A convoy of a top government official which had about five Hilux vehicles had to park by the roadside to access the situation from a distance.
It was observed how security operatives on patrol dislodged the groups but no sooner than they leave that the youths return to the spots.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had restricted protesters to Moshood Abiola Stadium but while some protesters obeyed the court order, others assembled at different locations across the capital city.
Meanwhile, soldiers from Zuma Barracks in Suleja, a town in neighbouring Niger State, have reopened the Abuja-Kaduna highway to motorists after about five hours dominance by protesters.
An Abuja resident, Abubakar Ibrahim, who was traveling to Kaduna, had told Daily Trust how he was trapped on the road.
Ibrahim, who could not make headway on the journey around 10am remained on the spot till about 3pm.
He said soldiers mobilised to the scene after the convoy of an army officer in mufti was denied access.
“He made a U-turn in anger, and after some moments, a team of soldiers stormed the place and destroyed the roadblock mounted on the highway. The soldiers fired gunshots into air, forcing the protesters to ran away,”
Ibrahim said he learnt that an elderly person who was being taken to the hospital got stranded by the incident and lost his life in the gridlock.
Daura
Protesters storm Buhari’s house, Emir’s palace
A large group of angry protesters stormed the residence of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on Thursday.
The demonstration was part of the broader #EndBadGovernance protests sweeping across the nation.
Witnesses reported that the crowd attempted to breach the former president’s residence, expressing their frustration with the country’s dire economic situation.
They set up a bonfire in front of his house and chanted loudly, “Bama yi! Bama yi! Bama yi!” – a Hausa phrase meaning “we don’t want,” commonly used to express disapproval during protests.
An unidentified individual from Buhari’s residence addressed the mob, suggesting they select a spokesperson to record a message for the former president.
Following this, the protesters moved towards the palace of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk.
During the march, security forces shot one protester in the leg while attempting to disperse the crowd with heavy shooting, but the demonstrators persisted.
In response to the incident, security measures in Daura have been significantly increased.
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