HARDSHIP PROTESTS: VIOLENCE IN KANO, BORNO, NIGER, KADUNA, ABUJA, YOBE, JIGAWA ON DAY ONE
Read Time:13 Minute, 27 Second
…Three Killed in Niger Chaos
…220 Suspects arrested in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina
…Yobe, Kano, Borno Govts Imposes 24-hour Curfew
The nationwide protests, themed #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria which began on Thursday, August 1, appeared to be peaceful in some parts of the country, while it turned to violence in other parts on the first day.
While there was calm amid protests in state capitals of Oyo, Delta, Zamfara, Kwara, Ondo, Sokoto, Ekiti, Kogi, Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, ugly scenes accompanied the protests in state capitals of Niger, Abuja, Borno, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe, Nasarawa, Borno.
It was ugly in Niger as no fewer than three persons were killed following a clash between security operatives and the protesters during the protest march in Gauraka, Al-sandalatu and Suleja areas of the state.
The clash came after hundreds of protesters blocked passage on the Kaduna-Abuja highway, Gauraka junction- Zuba road, Head of Service junction-Federal Secretariat and the burnt tyres on major roads that included the Kurundu area of Abuna.
On the Abuja-Keffi high-way, security agents faced a herculean task trying to control protesters.
The protesters, mostly Okada riders, stormed the Nyanya axis of the road chanting ‘ba muayi’ in hausa language meaning ‘we are no longer interested.
The protesters barricaded the road, burning tyres, while threatening to burn any vehicle trying to convey passengers out of the Nyanya park.
The situation left hundreds of passengers stranded at the Nyanya park as both commercial and private vehicles were disallowed from conveying passengers.
However, the presence of heavily-armed security agents, organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Benin, the Edo State capital, made good their threat as they converged on the Benin City centre to express their grievance.
There were skirmishes in the Country Home area Off Sapele Road, Okagbare, Ikueniro, Upper Mission Road, where suspected hoodlums mounted a bonfire as early as 6:30 am and were collecting N500 for those who want to pass.
The protesters also blocked roads to include Use-lu-Ugbowo-Oluku section of the Benin-Sagamu express-way, Benin-Agbor-Asaba road, Benin-Sapele road, Eke-huan-Ugbiyokho road, Upper Sakponba road, Siluko-Egor road, amongst others.
There was stampede as policemen dispersed intending protesters with teargas at the Lekki Toll Gate area of Lagos State.
Trouble started when the protesters attempted to block and occupy the ex-pressway, despite the warnings from the security men at the scene.
The situation became rowdy and the policemen fired tear gas cannisters into the air to disperse the crowd.
Also protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park refused to confine themselves into the park.
The protesters scattered themselves along the BRT lane in Ojota, despite resistance from security agencies, who were stationed at the venue.
Apart from the Freedom Park demonstration, another group of protesters also gathered in Alausa to protest against the government policies.
Arson, looting, vandalisation of properties in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa as police arrest suspects
In Kano, 157 suspects were arrested, following the burning of vehicles, vandali-sation of the state high court cum looting of the digital park of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), as well as properties in areas like Rufaida Youghurt at Kabuga, Kano Printing Press, NCC Office at Audu Bako Secretariat.
Hoodlums, wielding different kinds of weapons, had taken to the streets in some parts of Kano metropolis, looting shops and offices, with some of them seen carrying all sorts of items including office furniture, air conditioners and metal sign-boards.
A bus belonging to the Channels television conveying journalists from different media houses, both print and broadcast was attacked by hoodlums with Television Continental correspondent and Leadership reporter sustaining injuries.
The protest had turned violent when security agents fired teargas to disperse protesters who set bonfires in front of the Government House.
In Kaduna, a total of 23 persons were arrested in Kaduna State in connection with the offices of the State Traffic and Law Environmental Authority (KASTLEA) and the Investment Promotions Agency (KADIPA) in the guise of protest.
The command’s spokes-person, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incidents to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna, saying the protesters burnt an Armoured Personnel Carrier, looted many shops and tried to invade the Government House.
Police in Katsina State arrested 40 people, suspected to be hoodlums, over the protest. State police com-missioner, Aliyu Musa, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, said the protest had been contained and that no loss of life was recorded.
The protesters, had among other places, also stormed the residence of former President Muham-madu Buhari to make their demands.
Meanwhile, the Borno police command claimed that Boko Haram elements infiltrated protesters along Baga road in Maiduguri, killing four persons, while 34 others sustained various degrees of injuries. The police commis-sioner, Yusuf Lawal, said the police swiftly deployed the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) Base 13 which probed the scene. He said injured persons and corpses were evacuated to the Specialist Hospital. Maiduguri for treat-ment and autopsy.
In Jigawa, headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was set on fire, in the wake of the protest in the state.
The protesters stormed the facility in Dutse, the state capital, where they destroyed bill boards and other publicity materials before burning down the building. They also burnt vehicles that were parked within the premises.
The violence spread to some other parts of the state as armed youths broke lose despite efforts of security operatives to contain them.
In Birnin Kudu, where some persons sustained inju-ries, the State Fertilizer Store and Grains Store were all vandalized and looted by the hoodlums, while the store of the state Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) in Gumel was also attacked. The mob also attacked residence of the House of Representatives member representing Gumel, Gagarawa and Maiga-rati, as well as the residence of the APC Zonal Vice Chairman.
Yobe, Kano, Borno govts impose curfew as protests turn violent
Yobe State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew on three towns – Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru – after protests in the state descended into chaos.
The curfew was announced in Damaturu by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier-General Dahiru Abdulsalam.
He noted that the aim of the curfew was to stem the tide of violence and looting that has left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Residents were directed to stay at home, while security forces had been deployed to enforce the curfew and restore order.
Similarly, the Kano governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’ has declared a 24-hour curfew in Kano.
Making the announcement while addressing press conference, on Thursday at Ande – chamber government house, the governor said it was regrettable that the peaceful protest was hijacked by enemies of progress to cause havoc and untimely death of innocent people.
Yusuf said the curfew was declared to avert further destruction of property.
Earlier the protest in the three local government areas was characterized by protesters setting ablaze cars, buses and houses.
The police commissioner in Borno State, Yusuf Lawal declared 24 hours curfew as he noted that minors, mostly almajiris took over the Maiduguri-Kano road, vandalizing public property.
He explained that despite police persuasion, the crowd turned riotous, forcefully breaking police barriers, pelting officers with stones and advancing towards the city centre. He added that the rioters later spilled over to the other parts of Maidug-uri municipal, breaking into the Borno State mechanical (BOTMA) workshop along Baga Road.
He added that also looted were vocational skills acquisition equipment, while five vehicles belonging to BOTMA were vandalilsed.
According to him, 14 suspects had been arrested and were currently under investigation at the Criminal Investigation Department of the command.
Pro, anti-Tinubu marches hold in Adamawa
Pro Tinubu supporters staged marches took over major streets of Jimeta and Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.
The peaceful rally spanned the grade interchange flyover through some streets enroute Ribadu square in the state capital with the participants expressing support for the policies and initiatives of the President Bola Tinubu ad-ministration.
Various leaders of the youth, women and people living with disability who addressed the press held that the critical development challenges facing the nation were due to years of misgovernance.
Most of the leaders who spoke are Comfort Ibrahim Ezra, Yakubu Umar, Adamu Ibrahim Pola, Musa Hamma Adama and Anas Bala noted that the president has started on a good footing and has so far established far reaching reforms including championing LG autonomy, students loan scheme, implementing new minimum wage establishing a commission for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD) and giving tax waiver on essential commodities amongst many reforms.
They urged the people to adopt alternative mechanism of channeling their grievances rather than resorting to protest.
But in a protest organized by the Take it back move-ment, leader of the group, Ibrahim Bappa Waziri, a former state lawmaker, said their reason for staging the protest was to call on the government to address insecurity, inflation, poverty and food shortages.
Waziri urged the president to also return subsidy on pet-rol, electricity and reflate the value of the naira.
Protesters state demands
The demands reeled out by the various protest leaders across the country included immediate reversal of anti-poor policies specifically the pump price of petrol, to N197; immediate repositioning of public refineries and an end to importation of petroleum products; immediate reversal of the decision to hike the electricity tariff; political office holders be placed on the salary and allowance earned by civil servants.
They also demanded that the Nigeria police and armed forces be accorded the right to form and belong to trade union so as to proudly let out their agitations too; wanted free education at all levels; national minimum wage which rises as inflation rises; renationalization of the power sector under the control and management of the elected representatives of the working people; and that the Labour centres should declare a 48-hour nationwide strike and street protest.
In Bauchi, hundreds of youths gathered in front of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Memorial Stadium close to the Wunti Gate entrance to Bauchi metropolis bearing placards calling for reversal of the fuel subsidy, availability of food, reduction in school tees among other demands, matched from Kobi football field to the point of gather-ing.
The protest in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, took the form of street marches and addresses by the protest leaders on their demands, under the watchful eyes of heavy security personnel.
Commercial activities, though at a low ebb, went on unhindered across the city, though several residents stayed indoors up until noon after which they began to come out.
In Zamfara State, protestors barricaded the government house, embarked on demonstrations bearing placards with inscriptions like: “Bring back fuel subsidy, We are hungry, End insecurity in our state, region and county at large.”
Protesters in Sokoto stormed areas like the entrance gate of state government house, Sultan palace, round meruwa, Bello way to register their agitation.
The protest brought economic activities in the state to halt as markets, banks and other business areas were shut for fear of attack by hoodlums.
Despite the fact that residents of Makurdi, Benue State capital shunned the protest, service chiefs in the state led the show of force around capital city.
Protesters defied the Gombe State government’s declaration of no protest as they trooped out in their thousands and converged on the main gate of the Government House to let out their grievances.
The protesters, chanting in Hausa language, marched through the city to the Government House, demanding urgent action from the authorities to address the rising inflation, devaluation of the naira, increase in electricity tariff, and removal of fuel subsidy.
In Jos, the Plateau State capital, youths in their hundreds stormed the popular Old Airport Junction as early as 8:30 am carrying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration in the past year.
The protesters who converged the popular Interbau roundabout in the town amidst tight security by police and soldiers later proceeded through the Nnebisi road to Ogbeogonogo, the main market by the River Niger which was empty.
There was drama as the security agents restricted the movement of the protesters within the Interbau round-about.
The soldiers and policemen later paved the way for the protesters to move in a file out heading towards 0gbeogonogo market.
Residents of Warri, Ughelli, Uvwie and environs in Delta State, went about their legitimate businesses, as shops were open for businesses, while private and commercial vehicles moved freely.
Commercial activities were at low ebb in Imo, Abia, Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun states where no protest held, though security operatives were strategically positioned all over.
Curfew imposed on Nasarawa LG after violent protests dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State after the #EndBadGovernance protests turned violent.
The government declared curfew following the destruc-tion, looting, stealing, highway blockade, and vandalism that trailed the demonstration in the Mararraba area, the border between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The media aide to the Karu LGA Chairman, Danbaba M-agaji, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The Executive Chairman of Karu Local Government Council, James Thomas, after due consideration, has imposed a curfew across Karu LGA from 6 pm to 6 am from today until further notice,” the statement read.
Giving reason for the curfew, the authorities said it “was imposed as a precautionary measure to ensure the full security of Karu LGA.”
Immigration officer shoots self in Borno protest
Tragedy struck in Borno State as an Immigration Officer accidentally shot himself while trying to disperse protesters in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The officer, whose identity was undisclosed, was part of a joint security team that included police, military, immigration, DSS, and civil defence personnel.
He was looking at the protesters at the Bulumkutu rail junction when his rifle mis-fired, hitting him in the leg.
The officer was rushed to a nearby hospital, while his condition is unknown, as of press time.
NBA sets up probono legal services for protesters
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up probono legal support services for protesters in the ongoing hunger protests across the country.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the association, Akorede Ha-beeb Lawal on Thursday said, the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN has directed the 130 branches of the association across the country to take up observed or reported cases of breach of fundamental right (s) of any citizen, harassment, intimidation or torture perpetrated by law enforcement agents, the protesters or other identified members of the public in the course of the protest.
The statement said, Maikyau has directed, all, “the Chairmen/Chairpersons of NBA to set up Situation Monitoring Committees (SMC) to monitor and report activities and interactions between Law Enforcement Agents and Protesters”.
This, the statement said, is in recognition of the fundamental and guaranteed constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and protest.
To this end, the statement said, an online Monitoring Form has been provided by the NBA and can be accessed from the link https://rb.gy/ q5xqg7 and urged Members of the SMC and other members of the NBA engaged in the monitoring exercise to complete the form and submit same for NBA’s record and further action where necessary.
The statement reads, “To ensure an effective coordination of this endeavour, the NBA has established Legal Support Services Teams across the country headed by the 1st Vice President of the NBA, Mrs. Linda Rose Bala; the Chairman NBA-SPIDEL, Sir Steve Adehi, SAN; and the Chairman, NBA Human Rights Institute; Mr. Chinonye Obiagwu, SAN.
“The NBA President has also written to the Inspector General of Police to collaborate with the NBA in this re-gard.
“As the protest commences today, 1 August 2024, the NBA wishes to encourage citizens, including members of the NBA who are joining the protest to exercise their right peacefully and within the bounds of the law.”
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