…protesters defy govt, security agencies’ warnings.
Business activities grounded
The #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria and hunger nationwide protests scheduled for August 1-10 began yesterday as protesters staged the protests in different parts of the country
Tension enveloped the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, as protesters defied security agencies and Federal Government officials’ warnings and trooped out in their numbers to stage the protests.
Although the protests were peaceful to some extent, there were pockets of disagreements among the protesters, security operatives and a government official, particularly the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
D’GalleryTV captured some scenarios across the FCT.
Mother with baby confronts police after teargas, pepper spray at Eagle Square
….protesters shout down minister
Officers of the Nigeria Police stationed at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Thursday dispersed protesters with canisters and pepper spray during the #EndbadgovernnaceinNigeria hunger protest at the venue.
The officers fired canisters at the protesters by 10.00 am after first firing a warning of non-lethal shots at the ground.
A woman carrying a baby, who was visibly angry, dared the officers to shoot.
More tension mounted when other protesters too joined her and dared the officers to shoot. In response, the police fired pepper spray as well as teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.
Protesters also shouted down the Minister of State for Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande, who arrived the Eagles Square in Abuja to address the protesters.
When he wanted to address the crowd, the protesters continued to chant “hunger dey” and prevented him from speaking.
After restoring order, the minister told them that his intention was not to stop the protest. He described himself as a comrade who had attended not less than 100 and 500 protests.
“I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest, it is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests,” the minister said.
He also assured that he would address the police regarding the shooting of canisters against the protesters.
FCT Commissioner of Police, protesters disagree
Protesters who stormed the Moshood Abiola Stadium in their numbers earlier in the morning, disagreed with the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ben Igwe, for restricting the protest to the stadium.
While the protesters were at the entrance of the stadium displaying placards and chanting “hunger dey,” Igwe insisted that they must respect court orders in line with the laws of the land.
Police officers who trooped out in about 20 Toyota Hilux and other cars as well as soldiers and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confronted the protesters.
The pro-government protesters chanting “No to Protest” and those led by Endbadgovernance in Nigeria also had some disagreement that almost degenerated into chaos.
As a result, the police deployed helicopters which were seen hovering over the area. It also mounted barbed wires around the stadium.
The moves were made to restore order.
The protests spread to other parts of the capital city as several protesters were seen moving around the city centre, including the Central Business District, especially around the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Secretariat as well as the sub-urban areas such as Kubwa, Katampe and Dawaki.
At the central area, there were heavy security forces along the roads with police helicopters hovering around the areas.
Roads deserted, banks, business centres shut
Major roads from Suleja,– Kubwa- Abuja, Gwagwalada – Stadium to the city centre were empty as vehicles and commuters avoided them for safety.
Mararaba-Nyaya-AYA-Abuja roads were deserted as only a few vehicles could make their way into the city centre, following the stop and search operations by a combined team of soldiers and officials of Civil Defence who mounted heavy roadblocks along Keffi-Abuja Road.
Banks, several business centres as well as plazas remained closed for businesses except for a few POS operators that were making brisk businesses under palpable tension.
Also, prices of food and other items soared abnormally at shops where owners took risks to attend to customers.
At Keffi Nyanya -Maraba Road security agents faced a herculean task trying to control the protesters who had taken over the road.
The protesters, the majority of whom are Okada riders, stormed the Nyanya axis of the road chanting ‘ba muayi’ in Hausa language meaning ‘we are no longer interested.”
The protesters who wield dangerous weapons, barricaded the road at various intervals with burning tyres while threatening to burn any vehicle trying to convey passengers out of the Nyanya park.
Security agents comprising the Police, Civil Defence and soldiers tried frantically to prevent the enormous protesters from crossing to the Karu Bridge section of the highway but were overwhelmed.
The situation also left hundreds of passengers stranded at Nyanya Park as both commercial and private vehicles were disallowed from conveying passengers while the highway became the protesters’ arena.
In an effort to ensure the protest did not escalate to violence, more trucks of soldiers were brought in to bring the situation under control in order to reopen the road.
Born fire everywhere
Protesters who took over major roads burnt tyres as smoke enveloped the atmosphere.
Some of the protesters demanded President Tinubu and Senate President, Senator Godwill Akpabio to come out and address them.
Jabi, Utako axis peaceful, business activities record low patronage
Although there was no visible protest around Jabi, Utako and the popular fish market, commercial banks such as Zenith Bank, First Bank, United Bank for Africa and other banks along the axis closed down temporarily but their security guards were on ground.
Petrol stations such as AA Rano, Con Oil and Eterna were all under locks and key, except Mobil Petrol station at Awrab Junction which opened for service.
As at the time of writing this report, Mobil was still selling fuel to motorists and a queue was building up.
But the story was not the same at the popular Utako Market behind it as the once bubbling market was deserted.
There was also vehicular movement, especially within the link and adjoining roads with some business centres operating without any fear or molest from any quarter.
Unlike other places, there was no heavy security presence on this axis and pedestrians’ and passengers alike were seen moving freely.
Except for Jabi upstairs and Airport Junction where some security personnel were sighted, other areas visited were peaceful with people engaging in buying and selling.
