…as fuel scarcity bites
… threats to continue protest fails as one million-man march flopped
…relative peace reported
…curfew relaxed in Katsina, Kaduna as leaders meet gov
By SAMAILA ISHAKU
It appears Nigeria has witnessed the worst lap following the #EndBadGovernance protest, which supposedly lasted for 10 days even as the nationwide one million-man march scheduled to bring the protest to an end on Saturday was also stalled as protesters shunned the exercise.
Reports across the nation indicate that following the signing off on Saturday, relative calm has returned to the major cities that were embroiled in unimaginable crises as hijackers went on a looting spree and untold vandalism contrary to the ‘intents’ of the organizers.
Amid the relaxed tension, the military vowed it would counter any violent and subversive actions disguised as protest. Even as it insists that it would not condone any attempt veiled under the toga of protest to demand a regime change. DHQ also counseled Nigerians to seek legitimate means to power change by seeking democratic channels rather than call for truncating democracy.
Report has it that Plateau youths under the aegis of the Coalition for #EndBadGovernance# in Plateau State also met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang to mark the end of the 10-day protest and presented their demands to the governor.
However, despite the a large number of security personnel on Saturday, protesters defied the heavy lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory ,FCT, Abuja, and mobilised for the last day of the protest.
However, instead of gathering at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, the protesters, bearing different placards, moved to Lokogoma and Apo District, both in Abuja.
At the Galadimawa area of the FCT, the Police fired canisters of teargas to disperse them as they moved towards the roundabout, which leads to the Stadium and Garki areas of the city.
It is on record that the nationwide protest, which started on August 1 and was scheduled to end on Saturday, was characterised by widespread violence in Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, and other northern states while most of the South East states largely uninterested shunned the event.
Peaceful protests were, however, held in Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers States, with less human and material casualties.
Though it was planned to end the protest on its 10-day on Saturday with a nationwide one million-man-march, it was learnt that only in the FCT that protesters gathered but were dispersed by the police.
In Kaduna, the state government said unverified processions were not permitted in the state to ensure public safety and security.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, gave the warning in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna, thus containing any protest beyond schedule. Kaduna is one of the most volatile in the North has remained relatively peaceful as the dusk to dawn curfew has been reportedly lifted.
Aruwan said: “Criminals disguising as protesters will not get chance to unleash terror, loot properties”.
“The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, has reviewed the present security situation arising from the existing 6: p.m. to 8: a.m. curfew, and other issues on public safety.
He added that the government recognised the fundamental rights of the citizens to freedom of expression, lawful assembly, and other constitutional rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The Commissioner, however, argued that the security forces cannot permit a situation wherein criminals masquerade as protesters to loot and vandalise public, and private properties and unleash terror on innocent citizens as experienced from August 1 to 5.
According to him, processions not verified and cleared by the security agencies, therefore, remained prohibited in the light of the public security considerations highlighted.
In Kafanchan, there was no sign of any protest as the residents went about their normal activities, according to reports monitored on Sunday.
Residents of Zaria were also seen going about their normal businesses as there was no protest.
However, the increased number of security personnel at the PZ area was said to be due to the passing out parade at the Nigeria Military School on Saturday.
In Kano, the residents of Kano metropolitan local government areas did not participate again in any form of protests in the state.
Commercial activities were also gradually resuming in all the metropolitan local government areas of Kano, though the government was yet to lift the curfew from 6:am to 6: pm more activities were beginning to peak beyond the curfew as normalcy returns.
Business activities were also returning in markets such as Sabon Gari, Singer Market, Kantin Gwari, and Ahmadu Bello Way.
In Katsina, the organisers of the protests complied with the order issued by the Police and the state government that banned all forms of protests and unlawful assembly across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said that the order was still in force across the state.
In some local governments such as Daura, Malumfashi, and Kankia, residents were seen going about their lawful activities without any hindrance.
We gathered that property estimated at billions of naira were vandalised by the miscreants who hijacked the protests during its first day.
The government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Dutsin-ma Local Government Area for some days, and 7:pm to 7:am in the remaining 33 local government areas to address the situation.
However, the curfew in Dutsin-ma was reviewed from 7:pm to 7: am, like in the other local governments.
Plateau Youths have been civil after the protest as they have met with Gov Mutfwang, demanding accountability at all levels of governance.
The Governor, who acknowledged the frustration of the people, noted that his administration inherited a challenging situation but assured that he was doing everything to improve the condition of the citizens.
Sam Ode, who spoke for the coalition, also presented their demands to the governor, and another set of demands to the federal government, through the governor.
For the state government, the youths’ demands included accurate accountability of federal government funds allocated to the state, reducing tuition fees at Plateau State University, reducing the cost of governance, and publishing detailed information on the state’s expenditures.
In Rivers State, the organisers of the protest said they decided not to gather at the two designated venues to avoid hoodlums hijacking the protests.
Several units of policemen moved around major areas in Port Harcourt in a show of force.
Meanwhile, the police in Ondo State announced the arrest of some protesters, including the candidate of one of the political parties in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, a member of the Take It Back (TIB) movement, and at least three others.
The protesters were arrested in Akure, the state capital, during the grand finale of the nationwide protest against hunger, hardship and poor governance.
In a swift reaction, the TIB Movement condemned the action of the police and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters.
In a Twitter post, the TIB movement wrote:
“It’s unfortunate that the @PoliceNG is yet to learn. The continued clampdown on peaceful #EndBadGovernceInNigeria protesters is a total shame”, it said.
