By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia Reporter
DEMONSTRATORS RETURNED to the streets in Rivers and Lagos States for a second day, rallying against hunger and economic hardships in Nigeria.
The ten-day protest began in major cities on Thursday, August 1.
In the South, demonstrations remained peaceful.
In the North, violence erupted with looting and clashes with security forces in Kano, Katsina, Yobe, Abuja, and other northern regions.
Security agents clashed with protesters in Abuja.
In Lagos, thugs threatened to behead protesters and journalists while police watched.
In Port Harcourt, protesters gathered at the Federal Secretariat.
“They told me and a media person that they would behead us,” said one protester.
“The police were present while thugs disrupted the protest.”
In Ibadan, Oyo State, calm prevailed as businesses opened as usual.
Police Dispersed Protesters
In Abuja, police dispersed protesters at Berger Bridge who chanted, “Hunger dey oo, hunger dey ooo” before officers used tear gas.
Passers-by and motorists accused the police of high-handedness.
The police also dispersed protesters at the Berger Roundabout in Abuja, using tear gas as they chanted “End bad governance” and “Hunger dey.”
Journalists Caught in The Heat
Journalists covering the protest were not spared as police fired tear gas directly at protesters, affecting the reporters.
Some operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) expressed anger at the police’s actions.
Protests in Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Kano, and other cities highlighted economic reforms leading to inflation and hardship.
Court Restrictions
An FCT High Court had restricted protesters to the Mashood Abiola National Stadium.
When police blocked access, they moved to Eagle Square in Abuja.
In Port Harcourt, protesters converged on Pleasure Park. In Lagos, activists returned to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota.
Curfews in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Yobe states forced protesters to stay home.
Military Warns Against Looting and Destruction
At a press conference in Abuja, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa called the destruction “crazy.”
He vowed the Armed Forces would take action and urged Nigerians to give the government time to address economic challenges, noting these are global issues.
He stressed the importance of not allowing criminals to exploit the situation.
President Affirms Needed Change
President Bola Tinubu vowed to continue needed changes to keep the country afloat.
Worried about potential violence, authorities deployed armed security nationwide.
He noted that he was aware of Nigerians’ demands for reinstating subsidies for petrol and electricity, free education, and measures to combat insecurity.
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