...Borno imposes curfew as IED explosion rocks city
*Generally, banks, markets,shops and businesses closed down in many states for fear of the unforseen1
By Olawale Lamina, Simeon Omame (Nasarawa), with additional report
From the North to the South geopolitical zones, it was a mixed bag of reactions by protesting Nigerians as day 1 of the 10 days nationwide protests kicked off across the country amidst violence, forcing the police to fire tear gas to disperse protesters in areas with pockets of disorder.
Kano and Kaduna States. The protest against hardship in the country started with little or no incident and gradually built up to some level of concerns with different scenarios at different locations, with Kano, Burno states and the FCT, Abuja recording violence, resulting in destruction, violence and arrests.
We would not allow any anarchy in this country.
“We are not going to injure or attack anyone.
“But we have the rule of engagement in case of violence.”
He said the IGP and management team were monitoring development to know the next line of action
“We have intelligence that people will infiltrate this protests, this is what is happening now.”
The Pinnacle Times gathered that a TVC correspondent, Ibrahim Isah, was reportedly attacked as hoodlums in Kano, where there were also reports of gunshots in front of the government as the protest got out of control. They refused journalists talking or moving close to them. The affected journalist announced damages to his camera and other equipment.
IWe gathered authoritatively that the disorder was caused by two different groups, a pro-governent group and another anti-government, which motivated hoodlums allegedly carrying weapons and in the process attacked persons.
In Kaduna, a police officer reportedly got injured as violence erupted at the scene of protest leading to the arrest of no fewer than 25 persons in connection with the violence who had harms on them.
Borno State
The situation was not different in Borno, the Maiduguri State capital. The police were seen controlling crowds but later the protest degenerated into chaos, forcing the police to throw tear gas, with some of the policemen wearing hood.
The state governor, Babagana Zulum, responded promptly to the situation, especially with the report about explosion of Improvised Explosive Device -IED, by imposing curfew in the state, to forestall further brake down of law and other in a state that had witnessed unprecedented banditry in recent past.
Protesters in Nasarawa demands End to Economic Hardship and Bad Governance
Residents of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital came out in their number to press home their demand for good governance.
The protesters who trooped out to demonstrate began their protest at the early hours of today around the mobile filling station area in lafia marching towards the Nasarawa State Government House with their placards.
Although,there were little chaos as the protest was ongoing, as at the time of this report, the reason for the chaos could not be ascertain.
However security operatives which include the police and civil defense officers were able to disperse the rampaging crowd with tear gas and restored normalcy in the area.
No casualties were recorded during the protest.
Lagos State
This is a state where many were anxious to monitor the progress of the ongoing protests, because of antecedents, especially the events that characterized the famed EndSARS protest in the country.
As at 833 am, at Ikeja under the Bridge, that part of the commercial city was a beehive of activities as Keke tricycle operators were busy plying their services on one hand and the protesters on the other hand, who comprised members of the civil society groups mobilizing for the task at hand.
The protesters had gathered on one spot preparing to embark on the procession of the protest, but complained that the police prevented them from moving forward based on order on restricted areas for protest. They needed to gather at no other venue than the approved venues- Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park
As at the time of this report, many shops were seen closed as against yesterday when the area attracted flurry of activities between buyers and sellers.
This group of protesters later moved from Ikeja to Ojota axis to protest, among others, general hardship, bad governance and high cost of living in the country.
One of the leaders said: “We are here to say enough is enough, government should listen to our demands.
“People are here because they love the country and they want to see Nigeria get better in their lifetime.”
Also, there were reports of a group, Northern Group Defense Lagos who assembled in Alausa,to speak to the situation of the country through a peaceful protest.
On security, the Lagos State Police Command deployed officers to Lekki Toll Gates because it its significance. Residents of the location were seen going about their normal duties peacefully in the morning hours when the report was monitored. The people were conscious of the present state of things, manifesting in the way less vehicular movements were noticed on the road.
As at 10 30am, no protests recorded in Oshodi with commercial and business activities going on under the Bridge, but not as busy as before in terms of traffic before the planned protests.
But an unconfirmed reports say some protesters were attacked by thugs in Ajah axis during procession.
With complaints that protesters were not allowed into the he designated Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park, the Lagos State Commissioner Of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade denied the fact and said that it was the approved location for protesters to gather, adding that the park was big enough to contain them.
The CP who was on patrol of protest locations said that, “We would guide and provide space for them…
“Nobody would be molested. Peace Park and Gani Fawehimi freedom parks are the two designated areas for protesters in Lagos.”
Sanwo-Olu engages residents
The governor who urge the people to be peaceful, recalled the destruction of igbosere Court and other state heritage infrastructure in the wake of EndSARS saga, assuring Lagosians that govt will get over the challenges currently being faced
But a Section of protesters at ojota axis refused to enter the freedom park ,for fear that they could be locked in, despite assuraces by the state commissioner of police
A protester said they were acting in wisdom not to enter the pack.
We would not enter, that place is caged. If they arranged this place between tiday and tomorrow we would enter in, ” a protester said opposite the freedom park
Muritala Muhammed International Airport
,it was business as usual at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMI, with no disruptions of any sort. Air passengers were seen being checked in seamlessly by the airport officials.
Bayelsa State From Tombia Roundabout in Bayelsa, about 200 youths filed out singing solidarity songs as they assemble to commence their protest march, until another group of protesters came in to disrupt the once peaceful assembly, compelling the police to disperse all in the process.
Rivers State In Port Harcourt, the state capital, youths in their number gathered in front of the Federal Secretariat, along Aba Road where the procession kicked off to Waterlines and upto the Government House, where the protesting youths anticipated that governor Siminalayi Fubara would address them.
The Secretary General Ijaw Youth Council, added his voice by expressing support to the protest. He said that it has become necessary based on hunger in the land, high cost of flight, cost of food items, cost of fuel, general cost of living, calling on government to address all these.
So far, a peaceful protest took place despite calls in some quarters for no protest at all in the state.
Abuja
A large number of youths gathered in all directions, as against the designated cenue at the MKO Abiola Stadium, and decried the situation in the country.
Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the FCT, police me aking efforts to reinforce at the Eagles Square because of subsisting court order barring protest at the venue. MKO Abiola stadium was designated for protesters, but some ( group) of them kept pushing to go to the Eagles Square
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh went round in convoy to ensure everywhere was peaceful and to also see to it that the police keep to the standards of the rule of engagement, apart from their responsibility toprovide security to protesters,
At MKO Stadium ( National Stadium), protesters reportedly gathered as early as 8am, while some of them headed back to the Eagles Square to continue the protest, against the court order not to gather at the venue.
At Central area in Abuja, about 4 kilometers from the Eagles Square, protesters continue to move to advance to the Eagles Square (in disobedience), where security presence was already heavy to counteract the crowds.
The protesters during their procession demanded reversal of fuel subsidy and electricity tariff, as well as demanded that political office holders in the country be paid same salaries as civil servants. They equally asked for the release of all EndSARS protesters still in detection.
At Muritala Muhammed Way, Dutse Junction the protesters chanted and carried placards condemning hardship, as police fired tear gas to disperse them.
Our checks at Wuse axis of the FCT indicated general calm and no activities were recorded at the popular Wuse Market as shops were closed down.
Also vehicular movement was very light around the area, as people were conscious of their outings.
At the Eagles Square ,Casualties were recorded as protesters insisted on using the venue for their protest. Many were injured and teargased during confrontation with the police.
The police who were unable to placate the protesters after efforts at dissuading them failed, and fired teargas directly at protesters, with heavy detachment of security mobilized to contain the situation.
Imo State The state was largely calm as no protests were recorded in most part so far in Imo. But despite this government had put in place tight security to ensure no breaking down of law and order.
Force PPRO speaks on Developments in Abuja, other parts
Reacting to the incident at the Eagles Square, the force PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi said, “I don’t think they are expected to be at the Eagles Square in the first place, …we expect them to be at the stadium.
We will not allow any anarchy in this country.
“We are not going to injure or attack anyone.
“But we have the rule of engagement in case of violence.”
He said the IGP and management team were monitoring development to know the next line of action
“We have intelligence that people will infiltrate this protests, this is what is happening now.
For those who have been vandalizing, this , this is not protest again,the law will take its course,” he concluded.
Adejobi, in similar vein, reacted to development all over the country saying that the police are out all over to prevent violence, but said innocent people were attacked in Kubwa in Abuja, for instance, justifying the intelligence received ahead of the protest, that some elements were out to foment trouble in the country.
” I don’t see reason people should be marching down to the Eagles Square. “That would be tantamount to treasonable felony. That is not part of the designated areas.
“The IGP has been kind enough to engage their leaders,” he said
He expressed the concern that, with the current reports all over from the day one of the proposed 10 days protests, and based on pockets of violence recorded so far, Nigeria may not have a peaceful protests at the end of the day.
About the violence in Kano, he said that he commissioner of police is up to the task of arresting the situation.
He added: “We don’t want a single soul to be lost,” even as he decried developments that characterized the protests at day one.
Oyo State
In Ibadan the state capital, protesters matched through the streets venting their concerns about the state of the nation.
At Mokola roundabout, two groups gathered apart. One of the groups later marched to the state Secretariat. No report of violence was recorded so far and as at the time of filing this report.
Kwara State
There was also the case of court injunction, that protest can only take place at Metropolitan Square, in Ilorin, the state capital, which was virtually empty of protesters and largely taken over by the joint security operatives meaning the place and other important locations, such as the Post Office, CBN Office, offering protection to lives and properties.
The security operatives carried out the routine show of force around town in preparations for the ongoing nationwide protests.
Reactions by Concerned Nigerans
Speaking on developments in the country, Mr. OluFemi Lawson, a public affairs analyst said that government at the center and the sub-national are engaging stakeholders.
He commended those who do so with relevant section of the people involved in organizing the hunger protest.
He equally commended the security agents for conducting themselves properly at different places where they discharged their duties to the nation, although he condemned what the situation tuned out to be in some quarters, calling on the protesters and the police to ensure peaceful conduct.
Another analyst, Dr. Jelili who spoke on the commencement of the protests, said it is just the beginning to call attention to the dire situation in the country, even as he pointed out that both the state and federal government were responsible for the situation on ground and that both should be accountable in addressing the situations of Nigerians.
He called for more engagement with relevant stakeholders among the protesters to stop the ongoing action.
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