Final Day: Security Agents Use Teargas, Live Bullets to Disperse Protesters in Abuja

Final Day: Security Agents Use Teargas, Live Bullets to Disperse Protesters in Abuja

…Plateau Governor Parleys With Protesters On the final day of the ten-day #endbadgovernment protest, the atmosphere was tense in the Federal Capital Territory where for two and a half hours, security agencies battled against the protesters who held their ground defying odds of teargas and live bullets. The 10-day #EndbadGovernace protest against hunger and hardship

…Plateau Governor Parleys With Protesters

On the final day of the ten-day #endbadgovernment protest, the atmosphere was tense in the Federal Capital Territory where for two and a half hours, security agencies battled against the protesters who held their ground defying odds of teargas and live bullets.

The 10-day #EndbadGovernace protest against hunger and hardship began on 1 August 2024 nationwide and ended on Saturday 10 August 2024. The organisers had tagged the final day’s protest a” one-million-man march”. They had marched peacefully for almost two kilometers before they were scattered by the security personnel.

But some of the protesters in Abuja said Saturday may not be the last day of the protest as the government is yet to address their demands. One of the protesters who sought anonymity said: “But today hasn’t marked the end of the protest. We will continue to protest until our demands are attended to. The most essential is the reversal of the removal of fuel subsidy, which is the major reason we are where we are now”.

It was like the protesters reserved all their energies for the last day of the protest and shifted attention from the Moshood Abiola stadium and Eagle Square to Ebano Supermarket, Gaduwa in the Dakwo District of the Federal Capital Territory.

The # EndbadGovernace protesters came out in their hundreds at about 6:30 a.m. They were marching from Ebano Supermarket, Gaduwa to Galadimawa junction when the police arrived about two and a half hours later and fired teargas and live ammunition to disperse them.

The shots, both teargas and live bullets, did the magic as the protesters scampered for safety because of the attack, though no life was lost. A protester said: “They didn’t shoot live bullets at us directly, but tear gas was directly fired at us. But since they started shooting guns, no one can tell if they will start killing us if you don’t run.

“We are not scared of teargas and arrest. If they didn’t shoot live bullets, they wouldn’t be able to scatter us. We want to live to see the country we are fighting for. So, we couldn’t face bullets, and that was why we ran”, he said even as he pleaded for anonymity.

Amnesty International (AI) reported that over 20 persons were killed across the country during the demonstrations.
However, on Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the country on his policies and demanded an end to the protests. Some Nigerians who were not satisfied with the speech continued the protest. The protesters struck with their placards thus instigating a heavy presence of security agents especially soldiers at Eagle Square, Abuja.

On Saturday, hundreds of policemen and security operatives were deployed in major cities across the country to curtail the protest. The protesters are demanding a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, an increase in the minimum wage to N250,000, and an end to bad governance, among other issues.

The protest was sustained in states like Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, and Bauchi but it lost steam in the Southwest, South-South, and South East states.

The organising groups had threatened to lock down the entire country on Saturday to press home their demands, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday speech was flat on the table and not convincing.

On Friday, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Mr. Sanyaolu Juwon, in a statement said the August 10 protest would represent a pivotal moment in the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign. His words: “The Take It Back Movement, along with other organisers and organisations, will lead a one-million-man protest in each of the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on August 10.

“This event will mark a critical juncture in our nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, which began on August 1, 2024. It started as a planned 10-day protest but has evolved into a sustained and widespread movement, drawing participants from every corner of Nigeria and the Diaspora.”

Plateau State
The Coalition for #EndBadGovernance in Plateau state on Saturday met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and members of the State Executive Council as the coalition presented their demands to the governor.

The governor who expressed his commitment to making Plateau and Nigeria a better place, acknowledged the frustration of the people stressing that his administration inherited a challenging situation but emphasized that the time for change is now.

He highlighted his efforts to lay the foundation for a better Plateau state and appreciated the coalition for organizing a peaceful protest. He acknowledged that the curfew imposed by the state government was necessary at the time.

Governor Mutfwang emphasized that good governance is a collective responsibility and requires effective communication. He announced plans to establish community markets for citizens and his government’s discussion with private investors to build new markets.

Mr. Sam Ode, representing the coalition, presented the state demands to the governor. These included reducing tuition fees at Plateau State University, decreasing the cost of governance, and publishing detailed information on the state’s expenditures.

The coalition also called for the payment of minimum wage and other benefits. They also presented national demands, including reversing subsidies, reducing tuition fees in federal institutions, and reviewing electricity tariffs.

Mr. Ishaya Inusa, an advocate of peace and justice, commended the security agencies for their civility during the protest. He noted that the protest demonstrated that demands can be made without violence.

Mr. Inusa appreciated the support of the people and highlighted that hunger affects everyone, not just the youth. He urged the governor to consider the demands of the youth.

Ms. Mildred Bako, a member of the coalition exempted the Plateau state government from the protest’s focus. She criticized the high electricity tariffs and requested that the government find ways to reduce them.

Ms. Bako also asked the governor to provide alternative accommodation for those displaced by the Jos Metropolitan Development Board’s demolitions.

Kaduna State
The Kaduna State Government on Saturday warned against any processions not verified and cleared by security agencies.

This was contained in a press statement Signed by Samuel Aruwan, Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State said any protest not cleared by security agencies remains prohibited.

According to the statement, the Kaduna State Security Council has reviewed the present security situation arising from the existing 6 pm to 8 am curfew, and other issues about public safety.

“Based on this review, the Security Council hereby announces that criminal elements disguising as protesters, with the intent to generate unrest in the state, will not be spared.

“The Kaduna State Security Council recognizes the fundamental rights of citizens to freedom of expression, lawful assembly, and other constitutional rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“Nevertheless, the security forces cannot permit a situation wherein criminals masquerade as protesters to loot and vandalize public and private properties and unleash terror on innocent citizens, as experienced on the 1st and 5th August 2024, the statement stressed.

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